Marathi Vangmay Mandal

 

Heart Beats of SPCE: Part 3

Establishment of Marathi Vangmay Mandal...

The second semester started in January. Having thoroughly studied subjects like Survey and Strength of Material during my diploma, I found them easily manageable in this semester.  I was quite relaxed and began taking an interest in other activities, something I've had a flair for; like watching marathi drama, attending Kavi Sammelan, writing poems etc. Some of my poems were published in weekly ‘Lokprabha’.

Staying at the SPCE hostel, I developed good relationships with the locals, even owners of nearby hotels like Neelkamal and Bobino. I also built cordial relations with the college staff residing on campus, often helping them with various tasks. Room No. 57 was  a hub of fun and lively discussions; students often used to come over there to enjoy it. With consistent follow-up with hostel authorities, we managed to reduce the number of trespassers on the campus significantly. 

One evening, while having dinner in the mess, someone informed me about a program called "Fuli and Gola," a quiz competition on Mumbai Doordarshan, where a team from our college would represent us. Intrigued, we headed to Prof. Bhavani Prasad's residence in the hostel to watch the program. After viewing it, we returned to Room No. 57, and my immediate question to my friends was: "Who sent these students to TV program to represent our college?" The backdrop to my inquiry was their poor performance-they struggled with speaking Marathi and understanding the questions. Even with seniors present, no one had an answer.

The next morning, at around 9 a.m., before classes began, we gathered in the college garden to discuss the previous day's TV program. As we deliberated, more and more students joined us. Through discussions, we learned that Doordarshan had sent an invitation to the college, which was passed to student representatives. Instead of circulating the opportunity among students by displaying it on the notice board, they kept it to themselves. Ultimately, two of them decided to go directly to the television station. I pointed out that the representatives had failed in their duties and their performance was embarrassing.

After exchanging views, we decided to call the representatives to the garden and take their assurance that such actions wouldn't be repeated. However, to our surprise, they refused to join us, and on top of that, they spoke adamantly to the students who conveyed the message.

Determined, I moved to the college gate, stood in the porch, and declared,  “We would sit on a dharna until the representatives come to apologise”.  During this protest, we also discussed other issues, such as gymkhana activities, participation in youth festival, arranging inter-collegiate competitions, and prepared a list of demands. By lunchtime, most of the students had gathered at the gate.

At around 2 p.m., Prof. Natu and Prof. Rawale approached us. They were very friendly and understanding, as we had interacted with them often during college treks. They took note of our demands and went inside to discuss the matter with the student representatives.

After half an hour, the representatives came to the gate, accompanied by Vice Principal Papa Vaidya and Prof. Ms. Gogate Madam. With folded hands, they apologized for their actions. I stepped forward, shook hands with them, and thanked the professors for their efforts in resolving the deadlock. I also urged the students to return to their classes peacefully.

Before dispersing, I appealed all the students to gather in the Gymkhana Hall, after college hours, to constitute Marathi Vangmay Mandal in our college. Nitin Gadakari (not the minister) and I had already discussed this idea earlier, so we were prepared. 

Later that evening, all interested students gathered in the Gymkhana Hall. During the meeting, I was elected as the President of the Marathi Vangmay Mandal, while Nitin was chosen as the Secretary. It was an exciting moment, beginning of a new chapter for promoting Marathi culture and literature within our college!

Dr Mahendra Ingale, Former Principal @ Pune, March 21, 2025

Room No. 57 !

Heart Beats of SPCE: Part 2 

Room No. 57 !

l canceled my admission at VJTI and joined the second year of the Civil Engineering branch at SPCE, Andheri. It was October 3, 1979!

After completing all the admission procedures, paying the college fees, submitting the original certificates, etc., I headed to the hostel. I was assigned Room Number 57!

In hostel, Seniors Sabnis, Hasabnis, Vajpayee, staying in the room opposite ours, warmly inquired about us and assured their cooperation. They gave valuable advice, saying, "The exams are in December, and since there isn't much time, start preparing your submissions immediately. Focus on studying Math Ill thoroughly; there's no need to worry much about other subjects." Later that night, I joined them for dinner at Bachchu Bhai’s Mess. After dinner, we watched the program Chhaya Geet at Prof. Bhavani Prasad’s residence who was rector and living in the upper wing.

The next morning, Chandrakant Nehte and Ashok Dahad, both from Jalgaon, studying at J J School of Arts, but staying in the SPCE hostel, showed genuine care and concern for me. We had breakfast at the nearby Swadesh Udupi Hotel.

After that, I headed to college. Regular classes had started two months ago, and the syllabus had progressed significantly. Admission to Direct Second Year after completing a diploma meant I had joined quite late. I reached the class at 9:30 a.m., where Math Ill was being taught. Without the foundation of Math I and Il, understanding Math Ill was quite challenging. Prof. Mrs. Kanekar entered the class and swiftly solved 4-5 problems on Fourier Series. I tried to grasp and remember every word she said. In subsequent lectures she taught an important topic called the Jacobi Series. Prof. Mrs, Kanekar, calm and gentle in nature, spoke very little. She would head to the staff room immediately after her lectures ended.

Later, Prof. Perera taught Statistics and Matrices in Math, while Prof. Reddy explained topics like Heat and String Equations. Prof. Perera taught in a composed and clear manner. He spoke excellent English, frequently paused during lessons, and gave us time to write down the problems he solved on the board. Prof. Reddy would write meticulously across the full length of the board, leaving little need to erase it. Both professors were highly experienced and imparted their subjects in a simple yet impactful manner.

During the Math classes, I would try to understand the topics being taught while also thinking about how to use techniques to solve problems. At the same time, I would carefully observe the teaching methods of all the professors. At night, discussions on these topics would happen at the hostel.

By the end of November, the first semester was over. The exams were completed in December. After 8-10 days of holidays, the second semester began. In due course, the results were announced. I had scored good marks, which made me feel very relaxed.

During the holidays, outings to nearby places, trekking, watching plays and movies, visiting Goregaon Film City to watch shootings, strolling at Juhu Beach in the evening, and late-night chatting sessions at Hotel Neelkamal, mess, or our hostel room became regular activities!

At the hostel, I shared the room with Suresh Mahajan and Rajan Bunge. Suresh and I were from the same hometown, Changdev, and were good friends. Suresh, being a mechanical engineer, had worked in Mumbai for a year and was well-acquainted with the city. His knowledge often proved helpful to us.

Rajan was from Malinagar in Solapur district. He had a sharp nose, jet-black thick hair, fair complexion, and a well-built physique, with a rugged personality! Every morning in our room, he would complete a routine of around one hundred Surya Namaskars and an equal number of sit-ups. After that, he'd spend half an hour on worship and reciting hymns. He had a large Rampuri knife, which opened with a button, kept in his suitcase. He would demonstrate how to handle the knife. He often narrated mysterious stories in an engaging way. Many times at night, he would conduct planchette sessions to invite spirits of great personalities and seek answers to questions-a skill he had mastered!

On the door of our room, instead of writing our names, I had written, "The Men With Guts Live Here!". One day, I pasted photos of models from a Kingfisher Airlines calendar on the walls of our room and wrote appropriate lines from Hindi movies and my poems beneath them. For instance, "Tumse Accha Kaun Hai?" "Tumsa Nahin Dekha," and "Mala Baghun Gali Ka Vruthach Tu Hasate?" On the walls near the ceiling, we wrote different instructions for visitors, such as "Yanha Bhari Banduk Lekar Baithna Mana Hai" (Carrying loaded guns here is prohibited). Visiting friends would interpret these in their own way!

Over time, Room Number 57, a place where something or the other kept happening continuously, became the center for various activities conducted in the hostel and college!

Dr. Mahendra Ingale, Former Principal @ Pune, March 19, 2025

रूम नं ५७ !

 

एस पी सी ई ची स्पंदने: भाग २

रूम नं. ५७ !

VJTI चा प्रवेश रद्द करून मी अंधेरी येथील SPCE मधे स्थापत्य अभियांत्रिकी शाखेच्या दुसऱ्या वर्षात प्रवेश घेतला. ३ ऑक्टोबर, १९७९ चा तो दिवस!

कॉलेज मधे फी भरून, ओरिजिनल सर्टिफिकेटस वगैरे जमा करून, प्रवेशाची सर्व प्रक्रिया पार पडल्यानंतर मी हॉस्टेल कडे निघालो. मला रूम नंबर ५७ देण्यात आली होती!

माझ्या समोरच्या रूम मधे राहत असणारे सिनियर सबनीस, हसबनीस, वाजपेयी, वायकोस या सर्वांनी माझी विचारपूस करून सहकार्याचे आश्वासन दिले. ‘डिसेंबर मधे परिक्षा आहे, वेळ फार कमी असल्याने ताबडतोब सबमिशन पूर्ण करण्याच्या तयारीला लाग, Math III चा चांगला अभ्यास कर, बाकी विषयांची काळजी करण्याचे कारण नाही’, असा मोलाचा सल्ला त्यांनी दिला. रात्री त्यांचे सोबत बच्चू भाईंच्या मेस मधे जेवायला गेलो. जेवणानंतर, हॉस्टेलमधेच वरच्या विंग मधे राहत असलेल्या, रेक्टर प्रा. भवानी प्रसाद यांच्याकडे छायागीत कार्यक्रम बघितला.

दुसऱ्या दिवशी सकाळी जे जे स्कूल ऑफ आर्ट्स मधे शिकत आसलेले, पण SPCE हॉस्टेल मधे राहत असलेले, जळगांवचे चंद्रकांत नेहते, अशोक दहाड यांनी आस्थाने विचारपूस केली. जवळच असलेल्या स्वदेश या उडीपी हॉटेल मधे आम्ही चहा नाश्ता घेतला.

त्यानंतर मी कॉलेज कडे निघालो. दोन महिन्या पूर्वीच नियमित वर्ग सुरू झाले होते. अभ्यासक्रम बराच पुढे गेला होता. डिप्लोमा नंतर Direct Second Year मधील प्रवेशास बराच उशीर झाला होता. सकाळी ९.३० वाजता वर्गात पोहचलो. Math III चा वर्ग होता. Math I and II चा अभ्यास नसतांना Math III समजून घेणे फार अवघड होते.  प्रा. सौ. कणेकर मॅडम वर्गात आल्या, त्यांनी Fourier Series चे ४/५ प्रॉब्लेम भराभर सोडवून दाखविले. त्यांचा शब्द नि शब्द मी लक्षात ठेवण्याचा प्रयत्न करीत होतो. त्यानंतरच्या व्याख्यानांमधून त्यांनी Jacobi Series हा एक महत्त्वाचा भाग शिकविला. शांत व सौम्य स्वभावाच्या, सोज्वळ वृत्तीच्या मॅडम खूप कमी बोलायच्या, व्याख्यान संपताच त्या स्टाफ रूम कडे निघायच्या.

त्यांनतर प्रा. परेरांनी, Math मधील Statistics आणि Matrices तर प्रा. रेड्डींनी Heat and String Equations हे टॉपिक शिकविले. प्रा. परेरा अत्यंत शांतपणे शिकवायचे. ते इंग्रजी ऊत्तम बोलयाचे. मधे थांबून, बोर्ड वर सोडवलेले प्रॉब्लम उतरवुन घ्यायला वेळ द्यायाचे. प्रा. रेड्डी लहान अक्षरात एका टोकापासून दुसऱ्या टोकापर्यंत पूर्ण बोर्ड वर लिहायायचे. त्यांना क्वचितच बोर्ड साफ करावा लागायचा. दोघांचाही अध्यापनाचा सखोल अनुभव होता. अत्यंत सोप्या आणि प्रभावी पद्धतीने त्यांनी आम्हांस हा विषय शिकविला.

Math चे वर्ग सुरू असतांना मी विषय समजून घ्यायचा प्रयत्न करायचो, त्याच बरोबर उदाहरणे सोडविण्या करिता टेक्नीक कसे वापरता येईल याचा विचार करायचो. तसेच सर्व शिक्षक कशा पद्धतीने शिकवितात याचे लक्षपूर्वक निरीक्षण करायचो. रात्री हॉस्टेलवर याची चर्चा व्ह्यायची.

नोव्हेंबर अखेरीस पहिले सेमेस्टर संपले. डिसेंबर मधे परिक्षा संपल्या. ८/१० दिवसांच्या सुट्यांनंतर दुसरे सेमेस्टर सुरू झाले. यथावकाश रिझल्ट लागला. चांगले मार्क मिळाले होते. त्यामूळे आता एकदम रिलॅक्स्ड वाटत होते. सुट्यांच्या दिवशी जवळपासच्या ठिकाणी सहलीला जाणे, ट्रैकिंगला जाणे, नाटक-सिनेमा बघणे, गोरेगांव फिल्म सिटी मधे शूटिंग बघायला जाणे, संध्याकाळी जुहू बीच वर फिरायला जाणे आणि रात्री उशिरापर्यंत हॉटेल नीलकमल, मेस किंवा हॉस्टेल रूमवर गप्पांचा अड्डा जमविणे असे कार्यक्रम जोरात सुरू झाले!

हॉस्टेल मधे, सुरेश महाजन, राजन बुनगे व मी रूम पार्टनर होतो. सुरेश आणि मी एकाच गावचे, चांगदेवचे राहणार, व मित्र होतो. मेकॅनिकल इंजिनिअर असलेल्या सुरेशने, एक वर्ष मुंबईत नोकरी केली असल्याने, त्याला मुंबईची बरीच माहिती होती. त्याचा आम्हांस वेळोवेळी फायदा व्हायचा.

राजन सोलापूर जिल्ह्यातील माळीनगरचा. राजन, धारदार नाक, काळेभोर दाट केस,  गोरापान, पिळदार शरीरयष्टीचा, रांगड्या व्यक्तिमत्वाचा गडी होता! दररोज सकाळी रूम मधे, शंभर दीडशे सूर्य नमस्कार व तेव्हड्याच बैठका रोज काढायचा. त्यानंतर पूजाअर्चा, स्तोत्र पठण असा अर्ध्या  तासाचा कार्यक्रम असायचा. त्याच्याकडे, सुटकेस मधे, बटणाने उघडणारा, एक मोठा रामपुरी चाकु होता. चाकू कसा चालवायचा याचे प्रात्यक्षिक तो करून दाखवायचा. अनेक गुढ गोष्टी तो रंजकतेने सांगायचा. बऱ्याचदा रात्री तो प्लँचेटवर प्रयोग करायचा; थोर व्यक्तींच्या आत्म्यांना आमंत्रित करुन त्यांच्याकडून काही प्रश्नांची उत्तरे मिळवायची कला त्याला अवगत होती!

आमच्या रुमच्या दरवाज्यावर आमची नावे लिहण्या ऐवजी ‘The Men With Guts Live Here!’ असे लिहले होते. एक दिवस किंग फिशर एयर लायन्सने प्रसिद्ध केलेल्या कॅलेंडर मधील मॉडेल्सचे फोटो वेगळे करून ते रूम मधिल भिंतींवर चिकटवले. त्या खली समर्पक अशा हिंदी सिनेमातील आणि माझ्या कवितांच्या ओळी लिहल्या. उदाहरणार्थ…तुम से अच्छा कौन है?, तुमसा नही देखा, मला बघून गाली का वृथाच तू हसते?…भिंतीवर, छताजवळ आगंतुकांकरिता वेग वेगळ्या प्रकारच्या सूचना लिहल्या. उदाहरणार्थ… यांहा भरी बंदुक लेकर बैठना मना है। येणारे मित्र, त्यांच्या आकलानुसार त्यांचे अर्थ काढायचे!

पुढील काळात, जेथे सतत काही ना काही घडामोडी घडत असतात, ती रूम नंबर ५७, हॉस्टेल व कॉलेज मधे राबविण्यात येणाऱ्या विविध उपक्रमांचे केंद्र बनले!

प्रा. डॉ. महेंद्र इंगळे @ पुणे, मार्च १९, २०२५

Admission to SPCE

 

Heart Beats of SPCE: Part 1

Admission to SPCE

I completed my Diploma in Civil Engineering at Government Polytechnic, Jalgaon in 1979. After that, I applied for second-year engineering admission at various engineering colleges in Maharashtra. There were only eight colleges in the whole state at that time. They included the Government College of Engineering in Pune, along with colleges in Aurangabad, Amravati, and Karad. VJTI, SPCE, and Walchand College of Engineering were aided institutions, and Sir Vishveshwarayya College of Engineering in Nagpur was a regional one. Having obtained good marks in final year diploma, I was getting admission offers from nearly all the colleges I applied to!

When I was in the 10th standard, I couldn’t go on the school trip to Mumbai at that time. From that moment, I had a deep desire to see and live in the city!  I've always enjoyed reading and spent my childhood diving into novels and autobiographies of great personalities. During school, I read "Simhasan" and "Mumbai Dinnak" by Arun Sadhu, and I absolutely loved them! I had watched the movie "Simhasan" multiple times because it captivated me so much. All these experiences really fueled my desire to see and eventually live in Mumbai. So, naturally, when it came time to choose a college, Mumbai was at the top of my list!

In the first round, I was lucky to get admission in VJTI, but I couldn’t get hostel because there were very few seats available. So, I stayed temporarily with my buddy Pramod Jaykar in ‘D Hostel’ of VJTI until I could sort out other living arrangements. I started attending the classes. I liked the college very much. It was located in the vicinity of five garden area and there were many students from Jalgaon District. Over the period of time, I found the chances of getting hostel dim as very few were likely to cancel their admissions in the prestigious institute like VJTI.

So, I decided to check out SPCE College. What a coincidence—I ran into my friend Suresh Mahajan, who was there to ask about admissions too! We decided to grab some tea and snacks at the canteen, and let me tell you, I was blown away by the vibe there. Everyone was having a great time, sharing jokes, and chatting about all the fun and cultural events lined up for the coming days. The energy was infectious, and it made me feel so happy to be around such enthusiastic students!

After our snack, we took a stroll around the campus. As we stepped out of the canteen, I spotted this magnificent banyan tree with a cozy seating area around it, where students were gathered and enjoying each other's company. We wandered further and came across a beautiful Shiva Temple on campus, built with white elegant marble and featuring lovely rising steps and platforms on both of their sides for sitting. It was such an engrossing sight!

I loved the experience walking along side Bhavan's Arts, Commerce and Science College; and its hostels. When we arrived at the SPCE hostel, I was really struck by the lively atmosphere there. I had a nice chat with some of the students.

While I was there, I noticed a group of students hanging out near the gate, and after a little while, they broke up. Curious, I asked what was going on and found out that Danny Denzongpa had come by to visit a close relative. Growing up, l've always been fascinated by actors and actresses, writers, and great speakers, so hearing that was exciting!

The students let me in on some fun facts: Many Hindi films have actually been shot on this campus! Plus, I learned that the famous Juhu Beach was just a short walk away from the college, and Amitabh Bachchan was residing in his iconic’Pratiksha Bungalow’ nearby. What an amazing information!

On this backdrop, when I got a telegram from SPCE confirming my admission and learned further that hostel accommodation was also available; I immediately cancelled my admission to VJTI to go with SPCE; looking forward to this new adventure!

Dr. Mahendra Ingale, Former Principal @ Pune, March 18, 2025

Gathering of Beloved Ones!

Gathering of Beloved Ones!

Changadev, a village located at the confluence of the Tapi and Purna rivers in Jalgaon district! I am proud to be Changadevite! 

Over the years,many like me migrated to different cities for education, jobs and business and settled there. Their children continued moving further afield. Some went abroad for education, found jobs, and settled down there. 

A gathering of Changadevites, residing in Pune for work and business was organized at the Shri. Sant Adishakti Muktabai Temple in Bhosari. 

Today, more than 300 people attended this meeting, which is a very joyous and honorable occasion for all of us. 

For the past two years, Vidyadhar Mahajan and his fellow friends have been striving for this. Vidyadhar created a WhatsApp group named "Changadev Get Together." He located individuals one by one, obtained their contact numbers, spoke with them, and met them personally when possible. He sought guidance from seniors and coordinated with people from Changadev to work together. This arduous and persistent work of his and his colleagues has culminated in the form of this gathering.

The enthusiastic participation of the youth at the meeting and the presence of many senior and esteemed personalities brought a great joy. 

It was particularly delightful to meet Dr. V. R. Chaudhary, an exceptional personality and world-renowned scientist, who shared his experiences and provided invaluable guidance, which was an inspiring moment for all of us. 

Although Vidyadhar introduced him formally, I consider it my duty to write about his work again. 

After starting his career as a scientist at the prestigious National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) in Pune, he rose to the position of Director Scientist. He was honored with the 'Vasvik Award' in 1993 for his fundamental research, which has been critical in the fields of science and technology.

Stanford University, established in 1885 in California, covering 8,000 acres with various academic programs and home to many Nobel laureates, used stringent criteria to publish a ranking of the world's 2% most influential scientists; and Dr. V. R. Chaudhary's name was placed prominently on that list, surprising many! 

He served at prestigious universities, including Fayetteville in the USA and Hokkaido in Japan, as a Visiting Research Professor for some time. 

Despite staying away from the limelight, even at the age of 84, he remains dedicated to his work. He diligently mentors students aspiring to advance their research in their fields. I pray for his long, healthy life and wish him success in his endeavors!

While attending this gathering organized at the Shri Sant Adishakti Muktabai Temple on Alandi Road, I recollect the occasion when Shri Changadev Maharaj, mounted on a tiger, with his disciples, set out for Alandi to meet the siblings Nivrutti, Gyanadev, Sopan, and Muktabai. These siblings had come forward to welcome him, sitting on the wall. This brings back memories of how Yogi Changadev, there after, accepted discipleship from Adishakti Muktabai.

It is evident that this gathering, organized to ensure acquaintance among one another and assist each other in times of need, has achieved far more objectives than that. I sincerely congratulate Vidyadhar, Sudhir Lokhande, Deepak Chaudhary, Deepak Ladhe, Vishwas Patil, and all their colleagues! 

I express my heartfelt thanks to everyone for warmly welcoming us!

Dr. Mahendra Ingale, Former Principal 

Pune, March 16, 2025

P.S. Vidyadhar is a student of 1985-86 batch of Girnanjani Polytechnic, Erondol. I was the Principal there.

Changadev Get-together

 

स्नेहीजनांचा मेळावा!

जळगांव जिल्ह्यातील, तापी-पूर्णा नद्यांच्या संगमावर, चांगदेव मंदिराभोवती वसलेले चांगदेव हे गाव ! १९८० मधे,तापी नदीवर हतनूर धरण बांधले जात असल्याने, गावाचे पुनर्वसन झाले. गावातील अनेक जण नोकरी व व्यवसाय निमित्ताने वेगवेळ्या शहरात गेले व तिथे स्थायिक झाले. त्यांची मुले आणखी पुढे गेली. काही जण परदेशात शिक्षणाकरिता गेले,नोकरीला लागले व तेथे स्थायिक झाले. नोकरी व व्यवसायानिमित्त पुण्यात राहत असलेल्या स्नेहीजनांचा मेळावा भोसरी येथील श्री संत आदिशक्ती मुक्ताबाई मंदिरात आयोजित करण्यात आलेला होता.

आज ३०० पेक्षा अधिक लोक या मेळाव्या करिता उपस्थित होते ही आपल्या सर्वांकरिता अत्यंत आनंदाची आणि अभिमानास्पद बाब आहे.

गेल्या दोन वर्षापासून विद्याधर महाजन आणि त्याचे सहकारी मित्र त्याकरिता प्रयत्नशील होते. विद्याधरने Changadev Get-together  नावाचा एक व्हॉट्सअप ग्रुप बनविला. एक एक व्यक्तिला शोधून त्यांचे काँटॅक्ट नम्बर मिळविले. त्यांच्याशी बोलला. शक्य असेल त्यांना व्यक्तिगतरित्या भेटला. जेष्ठांचे मार्गदर्शन घेतले. चांगदेव गावतील व्यक्तींशी संपर्क करून त्यांचे सहकार्य मिळविले. त्याचे हे अत्यंत जिकिरीचे व चिकटीचे काम सातत्याने सुरू होते. त्याच्या व त्याच्या सर्व सहकाऱ्यांच्या मेहनतीला आलेले फळ या मेळाव्याच्या स्वरूपात आपणास पहावयास मिळाले. मेळाव्यात तरुण मंडळींचा उत्स्फूर्त सहभाग, त्याच बरोबर अनेक जेष्ठ व गुरूतुल्य व्यक्तींची उपस्थिती बघून खूप आनंद झाला.

ऋषीतुल्य व्यक्तिमत्त्वाचे, जागतिक दर्जाचे शास्त्रज्ञ, डॉ. व्ही. आर. चौधरी सर यानिमित्ताने भेटले, त्यांनी आपले अनुभव कथन करून बहुमोल मार्गदर्शन केले ही आपल्या सगळ्यांकरिता अत्यंत आनंदाची आणि प्रेरणादायी गोष्ट ठरली. विद्याधरने त्यांचा औपचारीक परीचय करून दिलेला असला तरीही पुनः त्यांच्या कार्याविषयी लिहिणे मी माझे कर्तव्य समजतो.

नॅशनल केमिकल लॅबोरेटरी (NCL), पुणे या प्रतिष्ठित संस्थेत सरांनी शास्त्रज्ञ म्हणून कार्यास सुरवात केली. डायरेक्टर्स सायंटिस्ट या पदापर्यंत ते पोहचले.

वैज्ञानिक आणि तंत्राज्ञान क्षेत्रात अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण ठरलेल्या त्यांच्या मूलभूत संशोधनाकरिता, त्यांना १९९३ मधे ‘Vasvik Award’ देवून गौरविण्यात आले.

१८८५ मधे स्थापन झालेल्या, कॅलिफोर्निया राज्यातील स्टँडफोर्ड येथे ८००० एकर परिसरात विविध शाखांचा अभ्यासक्रम राबविणाऱ्या, नोबेल पारितोषिक प्राप्त झालेले अनेक जेष्ठ प्राध्यापक जेथे कार्यरत आहेत अशा जागतिक दर्जाच्या व प्रतिष्ठित Standford University  ने अत्यंत कठीण निकष वापरून, प्रभावशाली असलेल्या, जगातील शास्त्रज्ञांची जी क्रमवारी ठरविली, -‘World’s Top 2% Scientists’ -त्यात डॉ. व्ही. आर. चौधरी यांचे नांव बऱ्याच वरच्या क्रमांकावर आहे हे बघून अनेकांना आश्चर्याचा धक्क बसला!

USA मधील Fayetteville आणि जपान मधील Hokaido या प्रतिष्ठित विद्यापीठांत ते Visiting Research Professor म्हणून काही काळ कार्यरत होते.

प्रसिद्धी पासून लांब राहून, वयाच्या ८४ व्या वर्षीही ते  कार्यमग्न असतात. आपल्या क्षेत्रातील संशोधन पुढे नेवू इच्छिणाऱ्या त्यांच्या विद्यार्थ्यांना कर्तव्य भावनेने ते मार्गदर्शन करीत असतात. त्यांना निरामय दीर्घ आयुष्य लाभो अशी प्रार्थना करतो आणि त्यांच्या कार्यास शुभेच्छा चिंतितो!

आळंदी मार्गावरील, आपल्या सर्वांचे आराध्य दैवत असलेल्या श्री संत आदिशक्ती मुक्ताबाई मंदिरात  आयोजित करण्यात आलेल्या या मेळाव्यात उपस्थित राहतांना, श्री. चांगदेव महाराज वाघावर स्वार होऊन आपल्या शिष्यगणांसमवेत निवृत्ती, ज्ञानदेव, सोपान, मुक्ताबाई या भावंडांना भेटायला आळंदीला निघाले असता, त्यांच्या स्वागताकरिता ही भावंडे भिंतीवर बसून सामोरी गेलीत, पुढे चांगदेवांनी आदिशक्ती मुक्ताबाईचे शिष्यत्व पत्करले या प्रसंगांची मला आठवण होत आहे.

एकमेकांचा परिचय व्हावा, अडीअडचणींच्या वेळी एकमेकांना मदत व्हावी या उद्देशाने आयोजित करण्यात आलेल्या या मेळाव्याने त्यापेक्षा कितितरी अधीक उद्दिष्टे साध्य केलेली आहेत हे स्पष्टपणे जाणवत आहे. त्याकरिता मी विद्याधर, सुधीर लोखंडे, दिपक चौधरी, दिपक लढे, विश्वास पाटील आणि त्यांच्या सर्व सहकाऱ्यांचे मी मनःपूर्वक अभिनंदन करतो!

आपण सर्वांनी आमचे अगत्यपूर्वक स्वागत केले त्याबद्दल सर्वांना मनापासून धन्यवाद देतो.

प्रा. डॉ. महेंद्र इंगळे, पुणे, मार्च १६, २०२५

ता. क. विद्याधर १९८५-८६ बॅचचा गिरणांजनी तंत्रनिकेतन, एरोंडोलचा विद्यार्थी. तेथे मी प्राचार्य होतो.

SWOT Of Mine!

 S W O T Of Mine!

Hear with heart and speak with eyes

Strengths like these light up the skies!

Weaknesses are the part of the tune

Speaking too much, under the moon!

This is good and that is too; not true

Let your words be bold,break through!

Opportunities hide from seeking sight 

Whatever comes, I face with might!

Greatest threat is yet to be seen 

God with me I am bound to win!

Dr. Mahendra Ingale, Former Principal

Pune, March 13, 2025

P. S. SWOT Analysis is a strategic tool used to evaluate and understand an individual’s or organisation’s Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. It helps in making informed decisions, identifying growth areas, and addressing challenges effectively. Here I have presented my SWOT in a poetic form hoping the readers will appreciate it.