Page 4 - Musings 2020

Preface

Creativity is not an ability; it is a passion – a passion that keeps itself alive and
kicking, thriving at its own command and with its own grace. Every time whenever
there are bigger and complicated interventions, it grows and takes a shape
simultaneously awe inspiring and awe inducing. During this sudden turn of events,
our endeavour also got influenced by delay and further delay, sometimes with
explicable and sometimes with an inexplicable development.

The unflinching conviction of Prof Sanjiv Kumar Choudhary made an attempt for the

revival of this legacy of the Humanities and Social Sciences Department, an initiative
taken by Prof Sangeeta Sharma under the aegis of Prof Meenakshi Raman. After that
this creative act kept blossoming in the hands of other mentors. Sudden changes in the
system put a brief recess to it but only to bring it back with the same nostalgic fervour.
The administrative dignitaries had always been supportive and appreciative. At the
department level, the whole set of faculty had been contributing in their own ways.

The department wishes to acknowledge the support and encouragement of the vice
chancellor Prof Souvik Bhattacharyya, the director Prof Sudhirkumar Barai, dean
administration Prof SK Verma, dean AUGSD Prof AP Singh and all other officials of
BITS Pilani, Pilani campus. On a personal note, I am extremely indebted to all the
faculty members of HSS department not only for their creative and critical feedback
but also their support in all possible ways. Experts from myriad areas with their
individually distinct insight could add only a flavor that when savoured takes one to
the another world probably never experienced before.

The contribution of students also deserves special mention, specifically Ms Punita Raj
and Mr Abhijith Venugopal who helped me assimilate, sort, and browse through the
entries along with running other errands. Special thanks are due to Mr Yogya Modi
who agreed to put the data into soft copy at the last moment when he himself was hard

pressed for his own assignments, presentations, tests and what not. Sincere thanks to
all the contributors who made this happen; they were given the liberty to work on the
ideas of their own choice.

No one deserves less than perfect – we hope to provide the readers with entries that
wield the charm to delight their aesthetic taste.

Devika

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