1. 14| BHUBANESWAR
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013
Youth Post
T
he huge spurt in consumption of
dairy and other milk-based prod-
ucts has literally opened the
floodgates for a lot new career op-
tions, with dairy technology becoming
a hot option.
BTech in dairy technology or dairy sci-
ence and technology offers intensive
training in milk processing and quality
control, and engineering aspects of dairy
processing equipment.
The disciplines that are offered at the
PG level for graduates in dairy tech-
nology include dairy microbiology,
dairy chemistry, dairy engineering,
animal biochemistry, animal biotech-
nology, animal genetics and breed-
ing, livestock production and man-
agement, animal nutrition, animal
physiology, dairy economics and dairy
extension education.
ELIGIBILITY
Students who have completed 10+2
with physics, chemistry and mathe-
matics are eligible to study dairy tech-
nology after having taken respective
entrance tests.
After completing BTech, one can
go for a Master’s degree in dairying.
The course offers intensive training
in various aspects of production, pro-
cessing and management.
Those who have completed the post-
graduate programme can go for PhD re-
search programmes within the country
as well as abroad.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
At present more than 400 dairy plants
and 175 dairy equipment manufactur-
ers are functioning in the country.
INSTITUTES OFFERING COURSES
IN DAIRY TECHNOLOGY
The postgraduate programme in
dairying is offered only by a few insti-
tutions in India.
NATIONAL DAIRY RESEARCH
INSTITUTE (NDRI)
NDRI in Karnal, Haryana, is a leader
in research and education in the field of
dairy science and technology. It offers
BTech in dairy technology, and Master’s
and PhD programmes in dairying. These
programmes are also available at its south-
ern regional campus in Bangalore.
Admissions to these courses are conducted
through all India entrance examinations.
The agricultural
universities or institutes offering
courses in dairy science and technology in India are:
a Dairy Science College (University of Agricultural Sciences,
Bangalore)
a College of Veterinary Science (Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural
University)
a Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, Hyderabad
a College of Dairy Science (Rajasthan Agricultural University),
Udaipur
a Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Dairy Technology, Patna
a West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences
a Allahabad Agricultural Institute
a Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur
a Dairy Science Institute, Asrey Milk Colony, Government of
Maharastra
a Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh
a In Kerala, the College of Dairy Science and Technology, Idukki
(presently functioning at Mannuthy) offers BTech in dairy
science and technology. This college comes under the Kerala
Agricultural University (KAU), Mannuthy, Thrissur. Admission to
the course is on the basis of ranks obtained in the common
entrance examination. PNN
The disciplines offered at the
PG level for graduates in dairy
technology include dairy
microbiology, dairy chemistry,
dairy engineering, animal
biochemistry, animal
biotechnology and animal
genetics and breeding
T
here aren’t many who possess
the grit to translate their dreams
into reality. The odyssey from a
childhood fantasy to fame was a tough
and exhausting journey, but Devesh
Ranjan vowed never to say ‘no’ until des-
tiny bowed down to his perseverance.
The first ever male Oriya actor to have
bagged a lead role in an international
film, Ranjan plays the lead character of
Shyam in Bhutanese filmmaker Khyentse
Norbu’s upcoming English film Vara:
A Blessing, opposite Bollywood actress
Shahana Goswami.
With the movie slated to make its
world premiere during its screening
as the opening film at the 18th Annual
Busan International Film Festival in
South Korea and at the 57th BFI
London Film Festival, OP spoke to
this dusky and shy lad from Jajpur
about his journey thus far.
Ranjan who grew up watching films
of superstars like Amitabh Bachchan
and Mithun Chakraborty and their Oriya
counterparts Sriram Panda and Uttam
Mohanty, says that more than the charm
of actors, it was the overall appeal of the
film industry that inspired him to choose
acting as a career.
“My passion for dance added fuel to
fire. For years, I tried to figure out ways to
enter the industry. During my college days
I used to organise dramas in the village and
bunk classes to visit Oriya film producers
and directors in Bhubaneswar to get a role
in films. My family, however, wanted me
to continue with academics, instead. I left
for Delhi in 1996 to pursue a course in com-
pany secretaries after completing my BCom
from Vyasanagar College, Jajpur; but found
love in theatre. It not only taught me the
fine nuances of acting, but also induced in
me the hope to find new avenues to the film
industry,” says Ranjan.
Though working with theatre gurus like
Dilip Shankar, Robin Das, MK Sharma
and BV Karanth gave Ranjan the much-
neededexposureandexperience,hewasheart-
broken by a spate of rejections by the
National School of Drama, which he had
wanted to join. After a four-year stint in the-
atre in Delhi, he joined the Mandi School
of Drama in Himachal Pradesh to pursue
a course in acting, before finally moving to
Mumbai to try his luck in films.
During an entire decade in Mumbai,
Ranjan, despite bleak opportunities, re-
fused offers of petty roles in television
soaps and preferred working as a model, a
voice-over artist and a casting director
while awaiting a break. “I was, at times, of-
fered to play the lead in TV serials and
side characters in films, but never got to play
any, as either they rejected me for my com-
plexion,orIrefusedthemforthescript.There
were times when I didn’t get a proper script
to judge the film and in the process lost sub-
stantialroles,”saysRanjanwhowasalsocho-
sen and rejected for three lead roles in some
hit films in recent times.
Vara: A Blessing came his way while
Ranjan, bogged down by rejections and
failure, had moved to his village for a break.
“It was when Dilip Shankar, the casting
director of Life of Pi, whom I consider my
mentor and guru, mailed me informing
that Norbu wanted me to audition for
the role. I sent them videos of my audi-
tion after shooting it with much difficulty
in my village. They liked me and short-
listed me among other reputed Bollywood
actors who were vying for the role, and
I felt like kissing the clouds when they
congratulated me for having bagged the
role,” says Ranjan. “The indigenous hue
of my complexion, which I had earlier con-
sidered a curse to live with, had proved
to be a boon for me,” he adds.
Shot in Sri Lanka, the film is based on
the novel Rakta Aar Kanna (translated as
Blood and Tears in English) by distinguished
Bengali author Sunil Gangopadhayay. The
story revolves round the lives of Shyam
(played by Ranjan), a low-caste boy, who
wants to be a sculptor and move to the city;
and his childhood friend Lila (played by
Shahana Goswami), a Bharatnatyam dancer
and daughter of a Devadasi. The film which
addresses the themes of love, sacrifice and
caste discrimination also touches a spiritual
chordthroughitsportrayaloftwoindividuals
who seek God and love in each other. While
Lila considers Shyam – an untouchable –
an embodiment of Lord Krishna, she, in
turn, plays muse to Shyam inspiring him
to get above his station in social life.
“I play a character often abused and bul-
liedforaspiringthingsthathispositiondoes-
n’t allow him to. But he never cries or com-
plains,ratherforgetsandstriveshardtoreach
hisgoal,”saysRanjanwhoconsidersShyam’s
characterasanarchetypeforindividualswho
have struggled to secure an individual iden-
tity, but have died unnoticed.
Ranjanwhoworkedhardtoinfuselifeinto
thecharactersayshisskillsatplayingtheflute
and painting helped him a lot. “While I had
earlier learnt the instrument for a brief pe-
riodunderGuruHariprasadChaurasiaathis
Gurukul in Mumbai, after signing the film
I visited the tribal areas of
Orissatopickupsometribal
notes. I also learnt sculpt-
ing under the tutelage of
HarekrushnaMaharanato
addedgetothecharacter,”
says Ranjan, also a trained
Chhau dancer.
Asked whether it was
intimidating to share
screen space with senior
actors like Goswami and
Geeta Chandran, Ranjan
says, “I tend to
shed all my shy-
ness once I enter
the skin of the
character.”
A fan of direc-
tors Alfred
Hitchcock, Akira
Kurosawa,Satyajit
Ray, Anurag
KashyapandOriya
filmmaker Prashant
Nanda, the actor
describes his direc-
torKhyentseNorbu
as somebody who
knows how to get the best out of his ac-
tors and gives them the freedom to ex-
plore their selves.
Ranjan who never got a positive re-
sponse from the Oriya film industry dur-
ing his salad days, however, harbours no ran-
cour. “If given a chance I would certainly
work in an Oriya film, or for that matter,
in any vernacular film with a good script
and a talented director.”
Asked what held him back all these days,
Ranjan says it’s destiny that controls
man. He, at the same time, vouches for
hard work and honesty which pay off in
the end, even if success arrives late, as hap-
pened in his case.
“Struggle and life taught me to survive
in this dog-eat-dog world and I have learnt
never to compromise and give in till faint
rays of success swim through the crevices
of my window,” he adds.
T
he techie from Koraput, who
is currently a student of SRM
University, Chennai, was the
only Indian among the 40 dele-
gates from various countries
across the globe to put forth his
perspective on youths at the
recently-concluded International
Human Rights Summit in Brussels
from September 5-9. The 20-year-
old mechanical engineer capitalis-
es on Gandhian values — tolerance
and peace – and promulgates them
through his poems. Orissa POST
catches up with the advocate of
human rights and poet who made
it to the Limca Book of Records as
the ‘World Poetry Youth Poet
Ambassador of India’ earlier this
year. The young poet ideates the
power of young India...
How does it feel to be the only Indian
torchbearer at the 10th annual inter-
national summit?
I was surprised to receive a letter from the
President of Youth for Human Rights
International, Mary Shuttleworth inviting
me to the International Human Rights
Summit. I was elated. At the same time, ac-
countability to put forth the best face of my
country made me a little concerned too.
The very moment I wore the sash which had
the letters of India boldly written on it, I felt
proud. I was taken over by a sense of belonging
to my homeland.
What was your stance on the issue of
human rights at the International
Human Rights Summit?
Many parts of the world are currently see-
ing a wave of change. There have been se-
rious human rights breaches which are stir-
ring up protests and wars across the world.
I put forth ideas to restore our basic rights
and also suggested how technology could be
an aid. I also highlighted on Gandhian val-
ues in detail and exemplified how they might
help usher in an era of peace.
While youth power is on the rise, can
young India play a lead role in bring-
ing about change?
From the Arab Spring to the protests in
Turkey, youths are spearheading the battle for
human rights. A study suggests that countries
which have a larger number of youths are likely
to see changes and reforms in the coming days.
While youths make one third of India’s popu-
lation,wearesettobecometheyoungestcoun-
try with a steady rise in the youth population
to 464 million by 2020. Superpowers like
China, Japan and the West are ageing. With 64
per cent of India’s population being in the
working age group, the demographic dividend
willgiveusanunprecedentededge.Butdiscrepant
accesstoopportunities,especiallythelackofem-
phasisoneducation,continuestoplagueourcoun-
try. We should try addressing the persistent
problems first.
(During his spare time, Samarendra visits
slums to teach kids. He believes we should al-
ways do our bit for society. Such small things
can usher in big changes).
How does poetry and mechanical en-
gineering go hand in hand?
I have always been creative since my child-
hood days. Literature and sports have been my
area of interest. My burning passion for po-
etry has never been a hurdle. Rather that helps
me express and let my hair down. It satisfies
me from within. I feel everyone must pursue
their passion or hobby to keep themselves oc-
cupied and make use of time.
How do poems help you articulate
your feelings?
Dilemmasofoursocietyinstigatemetowrite.
When I want to talk about it, I pen down a
poem. The scenic beauty of my hometown
Damanjodi has always fired my imagination.
Engineering a
YOUNG INDIAA Blessing
indeed for
Oriya lad
The first-ever male Oriya
actor to have bagged a role in
an international film, Devesh
Ranjan plays the lead charac-
ter in Bhutanese filmmaker
Khyentse Norbu’s upcoming
English film Vara: A Blessing
Stills from the flim
Vara: A Blessing
Samarendra’s poem on the 26/11 Mumbai
attack comes down heavily on terrorism. ‘The
Threshold of Love’ which pleaded for a pollu-
tion-free Yamuna river and for the safety of
the Taj Mahal, brought him accolades. He has
written 400-odd poems in Oriya, Hindi and
English. His anthology of poems ‘My Musings
- The Poetry Within’ was published three
years ago. Ariadne Sawyer, President of
World Poetry Reading Series, invited him to
participate at the World Poetry International
Peace Festival at Vancouver in Canada where
his poems were highly appreciated by the
stalwarts from across 10 countries. He was
conferred three major awards there. Besides
being a poet, the final year engineering stu-
dent is an ace table tennis player having rep-
resented Koraput in several state and nation-
al level tournaments.
Milking a career in dairy industry