July 16: The Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India, J S Verma, will grace the 141st Foundation Day celebrations of the University of Mumbai as chief guest on July 19.Briefing mediapersons about the features of Wednesday's celebrations, the Vice-Chancellor Dr Snehalata Deshmukh said: ``For the first time our university will have an `Open Day' on July 19 at Rajabai Tower University Library to exhibit rare and precious books to the public.''The library books which date back to the 16th century are nearly eight lakh in number - of which one lakh volumes comprise journals, manuscripts, maps, diaries, coins and other materials useful for research. ``Original writings of leaders like Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar will also be freely displayed and unique books will also be on show,'' informed Deshmukh, adding that the total cost for the library's preservation is approximately Rs 60 lakh. The smallest book found in the library is a Zoroastrian work measuring 1.5 inch by 0.25 inch.Apart from the `Open Day', various awards and trophies will also be distributed on the occasion. The best three colleges doing excellent work in the university's National Service Scheme during 1996-97 are Kirti College, Dadar, JSM College, Alibag, and Dhayan Sadhana College, Thane.The Vice-Chancellor's Rotating Trophy for the best administrative office in the varsity will be awarded to the University Library at Fort and Vidyanagari Campus for the first six months and to the office of Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies for the remaining six months. To mark the completion of 140 years of Mumbai University, the old University Newsletter will also be revived this year along with the Science Journal and the University of Mumbai brochure.New courses and activities to begin from this academic year were also announced at the press conference. Among these are two post-graduate (MSc) courses in Biotechnology and Environmental Sciences, the Intercollege Faculty Exchange Programme, Student Counselling and a two-week Orientation Programme for new lecturers by the Academic Staff College of the University.
