Udupi/M’Belle: Mrs. Chandrakala B.E. appointed as the In-Charge Principal of St. Lawrence PU C

By Eugene DSouza
Pics by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 01 Sept 2015: Mrs. Chandrakala B.E, who has been the Kannada lecturer in St. Lawrence PU College from its inception in 1981 and the senior most teaching staff member, was appointed as the In-Charge Principal following the voluntary retirement (VRS) of Rev. Fr. Paul Sequeira with effect from Tuesday, 1 September 2015. Mrs. Chandrakala  will hold this post till she retires on 30 April 2016. 

 

 

The function of handing over of the charge byRev.  Fr. Paul Sequeira to Mrs Chandrakala BE was held during the assembly of students and staff members at 9.30 am on 1 September 2015. Rev. Fr. Lawrence D’Souza-Secretary of Catholic Education Society of Udupi(CESU), Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas-Correspondent of St. Lawrence Educational Institutions, Alphonse Alva-Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council, Mrs. Leena D’Silva-Headmistress of St. Lawrence Kannada Medium High School and J.B. Miranda-member of the administrative committee were present for the function.

 

Narrating the reasons for organizing special assembly, Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas welcomed the guests, staff members and the students.

 

Rev. Fr. Lawrence D’Souza read out the order appointing Mrs. Chandrakala BE as the In-Charge Principal and assigning her the responsibilities associated with the post of the Principal.  Thereafter, he handed over the order along with a bouquet of flowers to Mrs. Chandrakala. Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas also presented a bouquet of flowers to Mrs. Chandrakala congratulating her on being appointed as the In-Charge Principal of St. Lawrence PU College.Rev. Fr. Paul Sequeira, thereafter, formally handed over the charge to Mrs. Chandrakala BE.

 

 

In his message, Fr. Paul said that he had discharged his responsibilities to the best of his abilities as the Principal of St. Lawrence PU College for the last 13 years and hoped that the institution would do better under the leadership of Mrs. Chandrakala who had served as In-Charge Principal even earlier during his long leave.

 

On her part, Mrs. Chandrakala thanked the CESU and the Correspondent for  reposing their faith in her ability to head the institution as the In-Charge Principal and assured all present that she would do her best in taking the institution to greater heights during her tenure and sought cooperation and support from one and all.

 

Following the formal handing over and taking charge of Principal, Mrs. Chandrakala was asked to occupy the chair of the Principal which she did with humility and thanked Rev. Fr. Lawrence D’Souza, Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, Rev. Fr. Paul Sequeira, Alphonse  Alva and JB Miranda who were present in Principal’s office.

 

Born on 9 April 1956 at Bangalore as the second child among four children, two sons and two daughters of late BR Yathiraya and late KN Nagaratna, Chandrakala BE had her school and secondary education at the Canara Girls High School, Mangalore. She completed PUC at Government Teachers Training School, Balmatta in Mangalore. She was awarded Gold Medal for being highest scorer in both Kannada and English languages.

 

Mrs. Chandrakala joined the prestigious St. Agnes College, Mangaalore where she completed graduation and was awarded BA degree. Later, she completed post graduation in Kannada literature from the Calicut University and secured MA degree with first rank. 

 

When St. Lawrence PU College was established in Moodubelle in 1981, Mrs. Chandrakala BE was appointed as the Kannada lecturer on 17 July 1981 by Rev. Fr. Alexander Lobo who was both the Founder Principal and Correspondent of St. Lawrence PU College. Since then, Mrs. Chandrakala has been with the college contributing her service not only as a lecturer in Kannada but also in various activities of the institution. 

 

Mrs. Chandrakala has been a talented person.  She is an accomplished classical singer, writer, poet and dramatist. She had presented a number of plays and performed classical singing on Akashwani, Mangalore up to 1995. She has been writing stories, articles and poems in various Kannada newspapers and magazines such as ‘Taranga’. She had also written and directed one act and full-fledged plays which were performed by the students during College Day celebrations and other occasions. Mrs. Chandrakala has composed a number of farewell songs which were presented by the students whenever teachers retired. She has also compeered a number of programmes in the PU College.

 

 

Besides her activities in the college, Mrs. Chandrakala has been busy in social activities as well. She is the Director of ‘Spoorthi Koraga Training Centre’ at Kota and also one of the Directors of ‘Saripadanigama’ Music School at Udupi. Preparing herbal medicine for needy people who seek her help has been one of her important social work.

 

Mrs. Chandrakala is married to Venkata Sharma, who has retired as Principal of Science College in Bangalore. They have a daughter named Krithika Bharati.