Vivekananda Jayanthi held amid protests, Soolibele highlights the importance of muscle power

February 6, 2012

Mangalore, February 6: “Swami Vivekananda had said that any change or revolution in the country has to originate from the Mysore Karnataka region. The time for the revolution has indeed arrived. We should trigger that change,” said Chakravarthi Soolibele, organisor of Jago Bharat.

Speaking at a function at the University College in Hampankatta on Monday to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Vivekananda, he urged the student community to study the spiritual leader and imbibe values propagated by him.

The programme was held amid controversies after the college management initially refused to give permission to the organisors for inviting a firebrand Hindutva speaker.

After days of protest and talks, the college management struck a deal with the organisors and gave the go-ahead for the programme.

In an indirect call to the student community to tone up their muscles for the cause of nation-building, Mr. Soolibele said: “Vivekananda was in favour of taking up football as a sport because you have an opportunity to kick at your opponent. Therefore you should play football and develop muscles before you read Gita. Even Sri Krishna has clearly called for war to protect religion. If you don't have the power to flex your muscles, what is the use of reading Gita.”

Today the world is looking at India, where yoga, culture, organic farming has become part of life. The world is today bereft of values and India has the power to lead the world, he said.

Principal of the college Lakshminarayana Bhatta presided over the function. Professor Harish, student leaders Shivaprasad, Ashiwni, Harinakshi among others were present. College students' council leader Guruprasad delivered a welcome speech.

Students turned up in large numbers as the auditorium was filled to the capacity. The prgramme was held amid tight security as activists of Students Federation of India protested outside the campus opposing the participation of Soolibele in the programme.

Addressing the protestors, Jeevanraj Kuttar, joint secretary of the organization said the Jago Bharat had been trying to divide the country and Soolibele, who talks about patriotism, should not be allowed to participate.

DYFI leaders Sunil Kumar Bajal, B.K. Imthiyaz, progressive thinkers Vasudev Uchchil, I.A. Prasanna, Lingappa Nanthur were present. Activists of Campus Front of India had also come forward to stage a protest, but they were sent back by the police.

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Mangaluru’s KPT becomes India’s first autonomous govt polytechnic

News Network

January 23,2026

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.

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