Manoranjan Kar would have loved to become a musician if not an academician. The vice-chancellor of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) comes from a family of singers. Though he is not professionally trained, he can sing and play a range of instruments. However, his brother inspired him to pursue academics. “During my younger days, engineering was generally not a preferred subject as there was large-scale unemployment of engineers. So, my brother advised me to take up agriculture studies,” he says.
His new goal is to take the university to the national and international league. Having taken over earlier this year as VC, he has already identified tools and strategies to achieve his goal — to improve the standard of education, research and extension — during his three-year tenure.
After completing his intermediate studies from Rairangpur, he did his graduation and postgraduation in agriculture from the OUAT. In 1980, he joined his alma mater as a lecturer in plant physiology and went on to do his PhD from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Subsequently, he became associate professor and head of the plant physiology department. He has also headed the department of performance, monitoring and evaluation and dean of students’ welfare at the OUAT. A year ago, he was named dean of the College of Agriculture.
He says, “My experience has been good so far. In fact, every day brings a lot of learning, especially from students. Though I don’t get to teach now, my days are busy with planning and coordination, and administration.”
Listing out his priorities, he says, “My immediate priorities include improving the quality of basic science education, the OUAT campus and community development,” he says. He wants to encourage research in subjects like climate change and agriculture, global warming, farm mechanisation, value addition, food and nutrition security and focus on developing feasible and locally adaptable technology for small and marginal farmers.
Similar to other universities, Kar admits, OUAT also has limitations like resource crunch and manpower for quality research. He is also not satisfied with the R&D undertaken at the university.
Also a noted agriculturist, Kar, 58, is popular with students and staff alike. He has guided 15 MSc and four PhD scholars and co-guided 95 postgraduate and PhD students. He has published 90 research articles in reputed scientific journals and written eight books widely acclaimed by the teaching and research communities. On his future plans he says, “I live in the present, so retirement is not on my mind.”.
— diana@newindianexpress.com