Sponsored Projects - a Maverick Decision of the University of Kerala in 1980s In the year1983, the MoEF, GoI funded like

eight research projects with a financial input or support of RS.47.00 lakhs. Yet, the investigators concerned were unhappy, as the multi-shelled bureaucracy of the university was in no mood to assume or acquire a positive and result oriented stand in respect of the sponsored research. I had one project, while Dr.N.R. Prabhoo (zoology), Dr Natarajan (aquatic biology), Dr. Ramakumar (demography), Mr. R.Krishnanath (Geology) were among the others. Late Dr PK Rajan (in the syndicate) willingly and earnestly cooperated with us in evolving a set of new modalities to base the operations of the research projects in general. In fact until that point in time, there was no instance of such a bulk funding for research by outside bodies. Another member of the syndicate equally helpful, was Dr Jacob Eapen, (late), who however, privately wanted Dr Ramakumar (Demography) to make ready a set of guidelines in the operation of sponsored projects. On a Saturday after noon around three, I happened to cross Dr. Ramakumar in the hallway of science block II. I said hello to me and immediately Ramakumar wanted to know if I was in a mood to go to his office for an audience with him. I answered affirmatively and told that in say five minutes I could go to his office which was in the same floor as Geology was. Those days the Demography department shared the west wing of the Sci Block II. As promised, I walked in and dr. Ramakumar wanted my comments on a set of guidelines he prepared for the smooth implementation of research projects. Spellbound, I sat in front and right through the session swallowing my ire and anger on the modalities put in paper by Dr. Ramakumar in respect of sponsored projects. In fact, Dr Ramakumar also told me that the document was written up on behalf od Dr Jacob Eapen , a staunch comrade in the syndicate, for discussion and adoption. As a HOD, Dr Ramakumar designed a HOD centric rule set, negating the PIs role perhaps totally. In other words, everything relating the project needed an assent of the HOD. In retrospect, it was a miracle that I happened to see the rule set, otherwise the syndicate would have baptized it and incorporated into the rulebook of the university. I decided that I should see Dr Jacob Eapen to contest and object to all the points of the would be rules written up by Dr Ramakumar. Around four in the after noon, I drove straight to dr. Jacob Eapen 's home near Medical College Men's Hostel and rather gate crashed. Luckily that person was in the drawing room and answered the door bell when I wrang it. I introduced to Dr Eapen, and he offered a seat and told me that he knew me. I was sort of bubbling and boiling with rage though I did not express it immediately. On his equiry about my calling on him I sort of blurted that I saw a note with Dr Ramakumar wrote on research projects and added that the modalities were HOD centric and a comrade like Eapen shall not accept any one of those suggested in the note. He may favor the teachers, the university and the posterity if a set of modalities contrary to what appeared in Dr. Ramakumar's suggestion would be just right in the longer run.

I also added that a comrade like him should never ever accept the views on HOD's as they generally are not correctly disposed to the younger teachers. Well the outcome of the episode is living well until these days. The Principal Investigator of the project has full financial and administrative control on the projects. I indeed thank Dr Ramakumar for letting me read and listen to the write up on project implementation. Dr. Eapen also was quite pragmatic in this regard along with Dr P.K. Rajan. I called the new rule set as the magna carta of sponsored research in the University of Kerala. ----------