STAMPED IMPRESSIONS
Principled progress
Reeta Sharma

PRINCIPAL of Goswami Ganesh Dutt Sanatan Dharam (GGDSD) College A.C. Vaid appears to be an ordinary man. But it takes only a few moments with him to learn that he’s brimming with confidence and the drive to excel. A graduate from Baring Union Christian College, Batala, and a postgraduate from DAV College, Amritsar, this jovial yet earnest professor of economics began his career in teaching in 1976.

Two years later, Vaid joined GGDSD College (popularly known as SD College) in Chandigarh. He completed his M.Phil and PhD during his teaching career. His perseverance and the capacity to work can be gauged from the fact that he wrote 42 textbooks for undergraduate courses till 1995. Today, these books are part of the syllabi in many parts of the country, including Kolkata, Karnataka , Assam , Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh. He has also written a book for postgraduate students.

Vaid was selected the Principal of SD College in 1995. "When I took over as Principal, the salary of the college staff was being paid by the management after taking a loan. There were only eight undergraduate courses run by the college for 1,272 students. The situation was grim. I realised the urgent need to act as the CEO of the college to generate funds and to build the infrastructure to ensure that students would get attracted to the college," recalls Vaid .

Within a year of taking over as Principal, he succeeded in getting a UGC grant of Rs 31 lakh for three courses — biotechnology, computer application and advertising, sales promotion and sales management.

He also started two more courses — BBA and BCA. The classes for MCA were again a result of Vaid ’s dogged perseverance. In 1997, M.Com courses were introduced as well. In the very first semester of MCA, students of SD College grabbed 18 out of the 20 top positions. In 1999, Vaid succeeded in getting a UGC grant of Rs 34 lakh per year for the next five years. Two three-year degree courses in industrial chemistry and information technology were granted to SD College by the UGC.

The college soon earned a reputation of an ‘institution of excellence’ in commerce. "In all commerce classes, our college has been consistently securing 16 to 20 top positions in the university results. By 2001, we started BCA (Hons) as well. Ours is the only college affiliated to Panjab University that is running this course. The BBA course was initially available in many colleges, but now most of the colleges have stopped this course. For 40 seats of BBA in our college, we get more than 400 applications every year," says Vaid.

In 2000, a postgraduate diploma in computer application was offered to the students. In the following year came up PG diplomas in marketing management and personnel management and labour welfare. In 2004, the UGC sanctioned six more career-oriented courses with a grant of Rs 12 lakh in cosmetology, environmental audit, clinical diagnostic techniques, advertising and sales management, functional English and tourism and travel.

In the nine years of Vaid ’s taking over as Principal, the strength of courses has risen from eight to 50 and students’ number from 1,272 to 3,200. Yet another feather in his cap is that today the cream is flocking to this college. Till 1995, students with low percentage and compartment-holders would come to SD College. Today, no student with less than 60 per cent in sciences and less than 55 per cent in arts can apply for admission in this college.

Vaid has succeeded in getting Rs 1.50 crore UGC grant for various courses for his college. The college fee is low as compared to other colleges. Every year, one or two students get selected to the IIMs. This year, Sonabir Sodhi, a student of the college, was selected to IIM Ahmedabad.

Vaid says top 10 students in each course are given 70 per cent financial support. Besides a corpus of Rs 10 lakh has been created to give scholarships to the students. There is also an insurance scheme for students, with the college paying the premium.

It is important to note that from just two buildings in1995, today the college has a library-cum-IT block, state-of-the-art science block, PG block, two hostels for boys and girls and a modern auditorium. The management of SD College has pledged to work for the education of women, hence, Vaid has opened a college for women in Gurdaspur, where 900 girls are studying. Yet another college for women in Fatehgarh Churian (Gurdaspur) is under construction. It will start enrolling students in March 2006. Who says one person cannot make a difference?

This feature was published on January 15, 2004