Former students of physics department to gift computers to RKM college

Former students of the physics department at Ramakrishna Mission Narendrapur Residential College (Autonomous), Narendrapur, have developed a platform to buy the department computers as the college does not have adequate funds to meet the demand.

The Association for the Physics Alumni, Narendrapur (APAN), which met on January 20, has so far decided to contribute Rs 1.8 lakh to help the department buy computers so that the students can attend their practical classes properly.

The president of the association, who is a former head of the department of the college, said they contacted the authorities to find out about their requirements after the association was formed last month.

Swami Ekachittananda, the principal of the college, who had in July last year appealed to its alumni for help so the college could upgrade infrastructure for lab-based as well as non-lab-based subjects for proper implementation of the four-year undergraduate programme, also attended the meeting on January 20.

Samaresh Chakraborty, the association’s president, said they have decided to buy the department a laptop, three desktop computers and three printers.

“In the absence of an adequate number of computers, the students are struggling to attend the practical classes. The department does not have the funds needed to buy the devices. The association, which comprises former students and teachers, has decided to help the department so students can attend classes without any hassle,” said Chakraborty.

The laptop would be used by the teachers who are working in the field of artificial intelligence and to impart lessons to students, he said.

The physics department was started in 1960.

Swami Ekachittananda, the principal, told Metro: “The department would be able to develop its required infrastructure with this help. The increase in the student count and the introduction of the four-year undergraduate programme may require the setting up of additional facilities. It may not be possible to provide funds immediately. Help from the alumni could play a significant role."

“We have also appealed to the alumni to help us in setting up an AI lab,” he said.

In a signed appeal uploaded on the college website last July, the principal had written that a big challenge was proper introduction of the four-year undergraduate programme from the academic session (2023-24) as part of the National Education Policy (NEP).

“Undoubtedly, the proposed implementation demands a massive enhancement of infrastructure both for lab-based and non-lab-based subjects,” the principal had written.

An official said the precedent set by the physics department could inspire the other former students to think of launching similar drives.