•Remembering the founders•
An homage to the founders of our prestigious
institute, by Prof. Udaykumar Yaragatti
I
n the year 1960 a barren land was converted into an education garden, educating students from all over the world in
the field of engineering. The garden is Srinivasnagar, where
the prestigious KREC (now known as NITK) stands like a
giant sculpture. The one important person instrumental in making
this barren land into an E-garden is non other than son of soil
Sri Ullal Srinivas Mallya, the then Member of Parliament, who was
a close associate of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. It was because of Sri. U. Srinivas Mallya, the great educationist, thinker and
visionary, that the Government’s acquisit ion of 250 acres of land
for the Regional Engineering College was sanctioned in this holy
land of Dakshina Kannada. Karnataka Regional Engineering College was born. The land is named as Srinivasanagar to respect Sri. U.
Srinivas Mallya’s contribution in bringing KREC to Surathkal.
KREC grew to what it is today thanks also to the efforts of two
other giant personalities and sons of Karnataka soil, mathematician
and Tripos Wrangler Dr. D. C. Pavate Vice-Chancellor of Karnataka University Dharwarad, and Dr. A.S. Adke, Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department, Mangalore.
Dr. D.C. Pavate was born in a small village called Mamadapur
in Gokak taluk of Belgaum district in a poor farmer’s family on 2nd
August 1899. Dr. D.C. Pavate’s full name is Dadappa Chinthappa
Pavate. His uncle, Siddaramappa Pavate, who was a Sanskrit Pandit,
inspired him. He did his early schooling from Mamadapur, Rubakani, Gokak, Kolhapur and finished his matriculation from Dharwad centre with 99%. He did his college studies from Karnataka
College, Dharward. Dharwad was the education and cultural center
then as it is now. In the year 1923 he finished his BA in Mathematics by securing 1st class 1st rank. In the year 1924 he got admission
to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University. After his education from Cambridge University he joined KLE Society College as
lecturer. In the year 1928 he was appointed as Professor and Head
of the Department of Mathematics in Banaras Hindu University.
From there he wrote his first book on Mathematics (on Calculus
and Algebra), which was well accepted throughout India. Eminent
people recognized him as Business Knowledged Mathematician.
In the year 1947 he was selected to become the DPI of Bombay
Province. In 1954 he became the 3rd Vice Chancellor of Karnataka University, Dharward. “Private Nagar” a beautiful suburb near
Dharwad, is named after him. In the year 1967, Dr. D.C. Pavate was
appointed as the Governor of Punjab by the then Prime Minister
Smt. Indira Gandhi. He served as Governor for one term. His Governance of Punjab was well appreciated by all top personalities. He
was one of the eminent people in the country in all fields. So when
KREC was sanctioned due to great efforts of Sri U. Srinivas Mallya,
the Central Government made Dr. D.C. Pavate as the first Chairman of the Board of Governors KREC (1960). Such an eminent
scholar/educationist was our college’s first Chairman of Board of
governors. As a bureaucrat he left no stone unturned in the creation
of KREC. As a visionary he built a college that would stand the test
of time. Quality in education - and quality alone - brought KREC to
the standing it has in the country today. Such was his zeal in creating
an institution that would be heralded in the years to come. His contributions to KREC’s development are equally fondly remembered.
During same time Dr. A.S. Adke, great Civil Engineer from
Dharwad district, was Superintending Engineer, Civil Public Works
Department of Mangalore. Seeing his great development works in
and around Mangalore, he was asked to select a site for KREC. Dr.
A.S. Adke found this land between Surathkal Sadashiva Mahaganapathi Temple and Godess Dhumavathi Temple, Padre suitable.
Then there was no looking back. He got it surveyed and made ready
for construction work. This land was acquired and good compensation was paid to people who were owners of these lands. Central
Government requested Dr. A.S. Adke to be the First Principal of
KREC, to which he readily agreed. The first decision he made was
to give employment to local people staying around. Even now people have not forgotten this. He made paper advertisement of teaching faculty throughout India and for non-academic staff advertising
was done in the places nearby to give more room for local people.
He even made 100% accommodation for teaching staff and only
30% for non-academic staff to discourage people from outside DK
to come here, because accommodation was a big problem at that
time. As a civil engineer he dedicated his service to the construction
and planning of KREC. The robust structure of the main building is a testimony of the quality of his work. The systematic planning of administration and educational buildings hostels and staff
quarters only added to show his vision as to the future expansion
of the college. Many of the alumni still remember Dr. Adke’s eye
for detail. Whether on the classroom circuit or in the hostels, Dr.
Adke’s standards were among the highest. Dr. Adke himself lived
in the Type III quarters, before the quarters that now stand were
built. Such was his humility. Dr. D.C. Pavate, as an advisor to the
Central Government, managed to get the attention and support of
government through funds, which was very important during the
development of the college. Like Dr. Pavate, Dr. Adke, got the attention and support of the government through funds or visits to
the campus of eminent personalities even if they just happened to
pass by. He also invited eminent people to KREC for inauguration
functions and other events. He interacted with students and even
labourers, ensuring that he too should be a part of their work, and
his dedication lived up to his own expectations of himself. Dr. Adke
was Principal from 9-3-1960 to 29-12-1967 and then he became the
Vice Chancellor Karnataka University, Dharwad, working directly
under Dr. Pavate. The tireless teamwork of these two visionaries,
led to what KREC is today. We as staff and students are grateful
and pay our humble respects to these great souls
.
Dr. Udaykumar Yaragatti is the current Dean,
Students’ Welfare. This article was originally printed
in the souvenir brochure of U. S. Mallya’s birth
centenary celebration, in November 2002.
16
The Shoreline