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Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Unsung Heroes: From a barefoot Karnataka village boy to an educationist and social worker, how Dr Eregowda is transforming lives with knowledge
Gangasamudra, a small village in Nagamangala Taluk, Mandya district, Karnataka, may seem an unlikely starting point for a transformative figure in education and social work. Yet, it is here that Dr Eregowda GB, born to uneducated parents Bhadragowda and Nengamma, began a journey that would not only defy his circumstances but also reshape the educational landscape for thousands of students. At a young age, Eregowda found a guiding light in Adichunchanagiri Mutt, where he spent 15 years under the mentorship of Sri Sri Balagangadharanatha Mahaswamiji. Life at the mutt was austere –two meals a day – but it instilled discipline and purpose. 'The guidance of Swamiji kept us motivated,' he said. Eregowda's academic journey took a decisive turn when he chose to pursue chemistry, a subject in which he initially struggled. A challenge from his chemistry lecturer sparked a transformation. 'He told me to prove myself in chemistry if I respected him,' Eregowda recounted. This ignited a fire within him, spurring him to top chemistry in his class during BSc, get a distinction in Master's, and a PhD funded by the central government. 'My connection with chemistry grew so profound that, even today, I cannot sleep without reading the subject for hours. That incident changed my perspective, and I developed a deep connection with chemistry,' he said. In 1997, Eregowda cracked a test conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) and was selected as a chemistry lecturer in a government pre-university college. Over the next 28 years, he served in various colleges, including as acting principal, with a mission to increase the number of students from Karnataka passing national-level entrance exams like NEET and JEE. His tenure began in Battalahalli, Chintamani Taluk, where he turned around a college with zero admissions by personally enrolling 80 science students. 'We built the college from scratch, with no chairs or boards initially,' he recalled. His longest stint was at Yelahanka Government Pre-University College, where he served for 18 years, maintaining an annual enrolment of 3,000 students. His efforts ensured students secured free MBBS seats without needing additional tuition, proving the potential of government institutions. 'Poor families have bright students who can't afford private colleges,' he noted. Spurred by a colleague's remark that lecturers in Bengaluru merely taught from others' books, he embarked on a mission to write his own. 'That comment hurt me, and I decided to write a book,' he said. Despite initial financial losses, his family's support, particularly from his wife, kept him going. 'My wife would stay up late with me, taking care of our child while I wrote,' he shared. Today, his chemistry books are used by over a lakh students and lecturers annually across Karnataka. In a bold move, Eregowda took voluntary retirement from government service to establish the Jeevith Education Trust, named after his son, to share his knowledge more widely. His institution achieved a remarkable 50 per cent success rate in its first batch, with 16 out of 32 students securing free medical seats. Eregowda's contributions to research are equally talked about. His work on cancer drugs, conducted under Professor K N Thimmaiah, led to the discovery of 21 new organic compounds and seven international publications. 'The drugs we developed worked better than existing ones, but they had too many side effects,' he said. Despite setbacks, including a costly experiment that failed, his passion for research persisted. Appointed as a scientific officer at Adichunchanagiri Cancer Research Center, he continued to contribute to medical advancements while balancing his teaching career. Eregowda's institution emphasizes discipline and application-based learning through NCERT books. He counsels parents against pressuring students into fields like medicine for prestige, advocating for alignment with students' capabilities. 'We assess students' capacity first,' he said, citing an example of guiding a student toward an IAS career via a medical degree. In 2016, he received the State-Level Best Lecturer Award, followed by the Aryabhata International Award, Sangama Ratna Award, Siddaganga Shri Award, Dr Abdul Kalam Lifetime Achievement Award, and the VK and BM Education Excellence Award, presented by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. Looking ahead, Eregowda plans to write a book on the current education scenario, drawing on extensive research and student input. 'Research isn't limited to labs; I do it through teaching,' he said, emphasizing his ongoing commitment to education. His institution, now three years old, continues to grow under his wife's and son's leadership, serving as a beacon for students from underprivileged backgrounds.
New Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
KPSC denies paper leak in Gazetted Probationers' exam; JDS calls explanation ‘fabricated'
BENGALURU: Following allegations that the question paper of Gazetted Probationers' Mains Examination conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) was leaked much before the exams began on May 5, KPSC issued a statement that there was no leakage of the question paper. 'There were rumours on social media that the essay paper was leaked at the BBMP Composite PU College in Kasturbanagar, Mysore Road. A detailed report was obtained. KPSC has adopted multi-level security measures to prevent leakage of question papers, to conduct the exam in a transparent manner. The question papers were taken in a sealed box, a sealed metal trunk and sealed tamper-evident covers were used,' KPSC said in a press statement. However, JDS slammed KPSC, stating that it has not learnt any lessons from the past and the public service is playing with the lives of candidates. In a social media post on Tuesday, JDS said, 'The corrupt Congress government has failed in conducting KPSC exams. The exam paper leak stands testimony to this. KPSC has not learnt any lessons from its past mistakes.' Replying to KPSC's explanation that the question paper bundle was open due to 'mechanical transportation', JDS said that it was a fabricated story.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Plastic cover in which question papers were transported was torn but paper was not leaked, clarifies KPSC
Responding to allegations that the question paper for the Mains exam for recruitment of Gazetted Probationers held on Monday could have been leaked as a question paper bundle had opened even before it reached an exam centre in Bengaluru, the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) has emphatically denied the allegations on Tuesday. 'No question paper was leaked during the Essay paper exam of the main examination. There was no other kind of lapse except for the possibility that the packing cover of the question paper was mechanically torn,' it said in a statement issued on Tuesday. 'A thorough investigation has been conducted on this matter and detailed reports have been obtained from the supervisors of the examination sub-centres and the invigilators appointed by the Commission,' it said. In its statement, KPSC claimed that the cover that was opened before the question paper bundle reached the centre in this particular case is a 'water-proof plastic cover used to protect the question papers from damage during transportation', which are 'only for the purpose of protecting them from liquids and are not tamper evident covers'. Further the KPSC said that all the security seals on the boxes, trunks and tamper-evident covers containing the question papers distributed to the said examination sub-centre were found to be intact. This was confirmed by the candidates, sub-centre supervisors, local invigilators and room inspectors. 'Therefore, it is possible that the plastic covers that were packed to protect the liquids inside the tamper-evident envelopes in room-2 of the said sub-center may have been mechanically torn during packing or transportation, and there are no other shortcomings. Furthermore, no such reports have been received from any other examination sub-centers conducted by the Commission,' KPSC further said. It further assured aspirants that the commission was not only taking care in maintaining the confidentiality, safety and security of the examination materials, but was also acting in the most transparent manner and appealed to aspirants not to be discouraged by baseless claims on social media.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Karnataka Public Service Commission aspirants get hall tickets at 3am!
Bengaluru: Karnataka Public Service Commission ( KPSC ) faced a massive backlash Saturday for its chaotic handling of Gazetted Probationers Main Examination . Following a high court order, 185 previously ineligible candidates were allowed to write the exam if they submitted applications by May 2. However, hall tickets were distributed as late as 3am on the exam day, forcing candidates — many from distant districts — to wait in rain without basic facilities. The aspirants and opposition parties have condemned the process as a failure, with the HC's final verdict now awaited Monday. ends
The Hindu
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Education is the key to overcoming women's challenges, says former KPSC member
'Education is the solution to all the challenges faced by women,' said the former member of the Karnataka Public Service Commission Nagabai Bulla during her inaugural address at the fifth State-level Women Agricultural Workers Convention in Kalaburagi on Tuesday. The event, organised by the Karnataka Pranta Krishi Koolikarara Sangha and the Women Agricultural Workers State Sub-Committee, took place at the KEB Function Hall. Ms. Bulla emphasised that poverty, illiteracy, superstition and even blind religious beliefs continue to hinder the progress of women. 'Education is the only cure,' she asserted. Urging mothers not to let hardship disrupt their children's education, she added, 'Even if you cannot build a house or own land, giving your children a proper education will empower them to build their own future.' She also cautioned against relying on others for change: 'No one else can come and transform our lives. We must use government schemes wisely and bring about our own change.' Speaking about financial traps, she warned women to be wary of microfinance loans that offer 'easy and quick' credit. 'Instead, manage expenses wisely and find ways to save within your means,' she advised. Advocate Sarasija Rajan, who addressing the gathering, stressed the importance of legal awareness among women. 'Knowledge of the law gives you strength and confidence. Without it, you're vulnerable to unnecessary legal troubles,' she said. Ms. Rajan highlighted that women now have equal rights to ancestral property, a significant change brought by legal reforms. 'Previously, women were entitled only to maintenance. Today, they can inherit ancestral property just like men,' she stated. She also encouraged women facing injustice to seek help from Legal Services Authorities available at every court complex. 'Don't suffer in silence. Use women-friendly laws to raise your voice effectively,' she concluded. The event saw the participation of union leaders and activists, including B. Venkatesh, Mallamma Kudli, Sarojamma, M. Puttamadu, Chandrappa Hoskera and Bhimashetti Yampalli.
