As an alumnus of
Osmania University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad, Telangana
On August 7th, 2014.
Good Morning to all! Respected dignitaries on the dais, the teaching and non-teaching staff of Osmania University College for Women and dear juniors, wish you all a happy morning.
It's been a decade after admission in Osmania University College for Women. Seven years after I graduated from this institution, I feel privileged to come back to a place which is my alma mater. I feel grateful and humbled to be part of this august gathering this morning. This is a place which was a beginning, a place where I received accolades as a student for academic excellence and went on with confidence to become an officer today. This place is special. Undoubtedly, along with the ambience and majesty the campus has bestowed to the OUCW family, this institution played the most critical role in giving me the exposure as to how big institutions work and sustain over years, how important is University Education in shaping the future of young students and the nation and how significant is the role of women in this society and the need for women to march ahead fearlessly in this contemporary world.
With regards to all the faculty sitting here this morning, especially Dr.Durga Bhavani, who was the first to engage a class in the OUCW for us way back in 2004, to Dr.Shashikala, my Geography Professor who has always been a friend outside the class which was held in the kitchen rooms of this monumental Residency Building, to Dr.Y.L.Srinivas who has been my closest point of connect with this institution and the world out here ever since I passed out of this college, I take this opportunity to address the students of 2013-2014 academic year as they get set, open their wings and soar to reach the high skies (like the Eagle in one of our English poems).
As a student of this institution, I consider this morning as a gift from the head of the institution and I thank Prof. B.T.Seetha garu, Principal Ma'am for your kindness to remember old students, to call us dearly and for giving me this opportunity. I am humbled Ma'am. As a young woman, a couple of years senior to students gathered here this morning, I deem it as a responsibility to impress upon your young minds how aspirations/ambitions are important in one's life and why we should strive to give our best endlessly. Born in Khammam dt. of Telangana, graduated from OUCW, Koti I consider this as homecoming and I shall try to address you more freely. Also, at a personal level, I feel that this college is a family for all of us who are women!
The World is a small place, people often say. Let me tell you that when I look back I realize that joining this college has been a part of larger scheme of events in my life. The college offered a combination I wanted to pursue Graduation studies in, it is certainly the place I had to travel in this journey of life. When I was in the final year of college, an ex-student Mrs.Ratna Prabha, IAS, was the Chief Guest for the Annual day and addressed us recollecting memories from yester years. That day I reiterated to myself that I should become IAS officer, a dream that I had since my childhood. Thanks to my father who impressed upon me that I should become an IAS officer before 25 years of age when I was in II standard. There is certainly more to things than all that meets the eye. I had this privilege of becoming an IAS Officer, and occupying the office of Assistant Commissioner, Basavakalyan (Sub-Collector), Bidar Dt., Karnataka last year, exactly 30 years after Mrs.Ratna Prabha, IAS (who was the first officer to occupy the office after a new sub-division was created in 1983). Currently, she is the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Karnataka. Thanks to this college which gave me a senior in a cadre away from home.
Always remember thoughts of great men and women and bind them close to your heart. In times of trouble or challenge, let the words be a guiding light. In times of success too, let words of great thinkers help you understand the depth of your being and realize the latent potential within you. Believe me, there is always reward for hard work, and huge recognition for selfless zeal in the right direction. We were all witness to watch on the television screens the achievement of a young girl from a remote village of our state of Telangana conquer the Mt.Everest this summer. Congratulate Ms.Poorna, a 13-year old girl who demonstrated that we ought to set our goals on the highest, work passionately and succeed in our lives. Poorna's achievement is an inspiration for all of us. I got a privilege to spend an evening with her last month and during our conversation she said she knew the real meaning of the words 'I shall never fear the unknown' in the last mile of the target and drew courage to conquer the Mt.Everest. She meant she did not fear death as she does not know it. Brilliant Kid, I was left speechless and kissed her!
Take courage, aim high. Read good books, keep yourself busy. Be passionate and realize life's best that is in reserve for you. Remember the words of Martin Luther King Junior "An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity". Rise above shallow thinking and hold your head high. Tagore's lines 'where the mind is without fear' should ring in your minds always.
As a young woman, passing out from this prestigious institution, walk with pride and dignity. Do tell the world that you want to achieve and show that you can succeed. Come back to your parents and tell them that you are grateful to them for this gift called life. Never forget that Gratitude is the highest form of Culture and never miss an opportunity to say Thanks. Yes, as young people, we ought to be grateful to our parents, for without them we don't exist; to our mentors in school and college, for they gave the best that we should succeed; and above all to our country, for guaranteeing us our rights and the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity.
Do what you love and love what you do. If there are young students aspiring to enter the civil services and contribute to the nation, I can tell you with conviction that this is a great opportunity to serve and realize the potential within you. The diversity of the job and, the challenges and the diversity of the public you interact with everyday makes the job exciting. Many times I shared with Dr.Y.L.Srinivas Sir over telephonic conversations and Sangeetha Ma'am over Facebook as to how this job is bringing out the potential within me and how it helps me to make a difference and that while work is constant, it is willingness to do what makes an officer different. I love my job totally and this job is worth all the perseverance it demands.
Let me impress again on you that we ought not to rest but strive to become useful citizens of this country. Aim high and have an extremely positive winning attitude. Try to achieve excellence in whatever you do. A quote on excellence by Dr.Martin Luther King Junior from his book Strength to Love - 'If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michaelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well'!
As young women, I want you to excel in your lives. Have an ambition and seek first things first. Prioritize your career goals above everything else. Nothing should come in your way to achieve your goals. Having joined in this college, you have already proven that women are not restricted to domestic lives and have a choice to build the future. Look up to the faculty, take inspiration. Though crimes against women are increasing with every passing day, it is also true that the 21st century has opened up innumerable opportunities for women. The best way to address this sorry state of women in our country is to excel in your careers, use all opportunities and prove that we are second to none. I remember the lines of Henry Van Dyke "Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best". Yes, not only the birds in the forest even the dry leaves can make sounds. In the similar way, all of us have to contribute to make a difference and empower our fellow women. There's is hope of promising future and we ought to own it as our responsibility, take courage and succeed to realize it.
To end with, make good friends when you are in college for definitely they are more precious than gold or diamonds. Love to mention Pupul Guha, Madhuri Ashok and Akshata Jaiprakash and take this moment to thank you guys for being there with me always. Hit with a sense of nostalgia, I look forward to witness a bright decade starting this year and join the Centenary Celebrations of this prestigious institution in 2024. I sincerely thank everybody for giving me this opportunity to be back in the college campus, and specially for all the warmth Principal Ma'am showed to me. Thank you one and all.
Eager to see juniors, Young Women succeed and create new records and bring more honour to their parents and for this institution, I wish all the juniors the very best in your careers and may you succeed in all the endeavours. Wish You a Successful Time. Thank You!
God bless you!
