Best Practices

Best Practice 2
Title: Shraavansari
Objectives: To amalgamate culture with progress and upliftment. To foster a sense of compassion towards nature and the environment, integrate cultural education with academic learning, and enhance students' appreciation for their heritage, nature, and promote inclusivity.

Context: The Shraavan month, falling during the monsoon season, involves various local occasions, celebrations, and activities such as farming, fasting, Mangala Gauri, Naarali Pournima, Pola, Raksha Bandhan, and more. Each festival and practice has environmental, cultural, and traditional significance. In the Konkan region, local people celebrate these events uniquely. This background was chosen to blend different shades of culture with modern, scientific, and social education and awareness generation. The aim is to furnish students with diverse values, morals, and well-rounded education by including cultural festivities that contribute to their overall development. This unique practice finds its initiation and celebration only at GPP College.

The Practice:
Started in 2015, this practice involves a two-day event:

Day 1: The Mangala Gauri celebration is scheduled on any Tuesday of the Shravan month. Traditionally, Mangala Gauri celebrates womanhood and motherhood, where women gather in traditional attire for a haldi-kumkum event. At Shraavansari, this celebration includes a poetry recitation competition, a female-centric workshop (such as self-defense or health awareness), and the felicitation of women who have made significant achievements in various fields.

Day 2:This day aligns with either Narli Pournima (celebrated by the Kolis of the Konkan region, who revere water and offer coconuts, stopping fishing during Shravan to respect the fish breeding season) or Pola (celebrated by farmers to show gratitude towards cattle and farm animals). It includes a themed field visit to a nearby creek or paddy fields to create awareness among students about farming activities, animals, nature, and conservation.

Evidence of Success:

The festivals, traditionally celebrated by women in the region, now incorporate women empowerment and awareness generation, a unique practice started by the college, and are being adopted by different SHGs and even the Gram Panchayat of Kon Village.
High levels of student participation and enthusiasm in the event.

Positive feedback from students, faculty, and parents highlighting the event’s impact on cultural awareness.

Strengthened community ties within the college and fostered values of brotherhood, compassion, and inclusivity among students.

Problems Encountered:

Initial logistical challenges in organizing a large-scale cultural event.
Balancing academic schedules with event preparations.
Ensuring the availability of resources and funding for the event.

Resources Required:

Financial support for organizing the event, including decorations, costumes, and prizes.
Involvement of local cultural artists and experts for workshops and performances.
Collaboration with cultural organizations and sponsors for additional support.

Best Practice 1:
Title: Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar (Lifetime Achievement Award)

Objectives: To inspire and encourage young minds and other members of society to emulate the awardees, considering them as role models for their contributions in their respective fields and the betterment of society.

Context: Shri Gajananrao Pandurang Patil contributed to various fields such as social, political, educational, philanthropic, cooperative movements, sports, and the Independence movement during his lifetime, thereby touching, influencing, and helping many lives. His impactful persona inspired many to make their mark on society through work and contributions in various fields. To continue this legacy, the idea of the Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar (Lifetime Achievement Award) emerged.

The Practice: The Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar is an annual award given to individuals unanimously chosen by the Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar Committee of Gajananrao Pandurang Patil College of Arts and Science. This practice began in 2019. The selection process involves at least two nominations by each committee member. After three rounds of extensive discussion, deliberation, and consultation, spanning over a month, the committee shortlists one or two individuals unanimously. The chosen individuals are then awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award on the occasion of Shri Gajananrao Pandurang Patil's birth anniversary, which falls on the 15th of December every year.

Evidence of Success: As of 2023, seven such awards have been presented. The Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar, being a consistent and significant practice, has been subdivided into two categories:

1. The Lifetime Achievement Award

2. The Lifetime Achievement Award (Posthumous)

Problems Encountered:

Each year, more nominations are received, making it harder to identify the most deserving candidates.
Nominees come from varied fields like social work, politics, education, and sports, making it challenging to compare their contributions.

Achieving unanimous agreement among committee members is difficult due to differing perspectives and criteria.

Despite set criteria, the process can be subjective, requiring careful effort to maintain objectivity.
The month-long selection process demands significant time and effort from committee members, who must balance this with their regular duties.

Resources Required:

A diverse committee with expertise in various fields to ensure comprehensive evaluation.
Essential for managing nominations, organizing meetings, and maintaining records.
Necessary to support administrative and logistical aspects of the award process, including the award ceremony.