September Updates
The Stanford–Elsevier Top 2% Scientists of the World (2025 update) has once again brought pride to the University of Kerala with the inclusion of two stalwarts, Prof. Daizy Philip, alumna of the Department of Physics and a pioneer in nanoscience with over 106 publications, 10,000+ citations, and an h-index of 54 (single-year rank #18,388), and Prof. T. S. Anirudhan of the Department of Chemistry, a leader in chemical engineering and polymers with 260 publications, 12,000+ citations, and an h-index of 62 (single-year rank #35,129). Their achievements reflect sustained global impact and inspirational journeys that continue to motivate generations of scholars. For a complete analysis of all University of Kerala scientists featured in the 2025 list, see my detailed report here
🗣️ Final Day Participant Feedback Speech
Respected dignitaries, esteemed resource persons, organisers, and fellow participants,
I would like to begin by saying that this Faculty Development Programme was excellent and very well organised. What struck me most was the synergy, the synergy between what each talk set out to do, and what it finally delivered. That alignment made this programme truly unique.
The sessions by EY, in particular, stood out for their clarity and structure. I especially appreciated the way Mr. Manoj Krishna began his session with a “statutory warning”, that all stories are only to help understand concepts, some are imaginary, not intended to offend any person, cult, or society, and all pictures carry the rights of their respective owners. That simple disclaimer set the right tone, because we live in a fast-evolving world where rules and games keep changing. Such a framing allowed us to listen with the right spirit, without defensiveness, and focus on learning.
I also enjoyed the Golden Valley mineral water story, which illustrated how managing different groups requires very different approaches. Negotiating with four trade union leaders in a mining project was relatively straightforward, but managing 350 IT engineers, each with their own opinions, was the real challenge. It reminded me that this FDP itself was about “managing faculty,” which can often be the toughest job! In fact, during my auto-rickshaw rides to the railway station, I sometimes strike up small conversations with the drivers. Once, I asked them which passengers they found the hardest to handle. Their reply—faculty from the University of Kerala! (hi hi). That made me laugh, but also made me realise how true it is that managing faculty requires a very special skill set. EY deserves special appreciation for managing us so well throughout this week.
The discussions were equally engaging. I was particularly involved in the one about why government enterprises often fail in entrepreneurial ventures. We discussed BSNL, and it made me reflect deeply. Governments serve a vital purpose, but they are not evangelists like Apple or Tesla, who thrive on market disruption. Governments take a more transformative, long-term view, but if this is done without emotional feedback, government enterprises may never succeed.
As a teacher and staff advisor of the department union, I often see business plans ranging from selling kanikonna flowers to selling biriyani. Interestingly, our kanikonna venture always succeeded, but the biriyani venture sometimes failed. These experiences reinforced what this FDP highlighted that every project must go through the phases of initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closing. Without this discipline, even the best ideas can falter. The Toyota Just-in-Time (JIT) principle also stayed with me—produce only what is needed, when it is needed, and in the amount needed.
Some exercises too left a deep impact. The ball-tossing game reminded me of the importance of teamwork and revealed the pyramid of failure analysis—lack of trust, fear of conflict, absence of commitment, and lack of accountability. These are issues every team faces, and unless addressed, goals will not be achieved.
As a physicist, I usually live in a world of equations, research, and the emotional give-and-take with my students. This FDP gave me a very different perspective. I especially connected with the metaphor of the elephant: big systems, like governments or institutions, are not meant to be loved; they must be handled with care and proper structure so that we don’t get hurt by their tusks. Always put things in writing, avoid disputes, and proceed with caution. Still, if someone wants to love the elephant, they are free to do so. For me, this FDP highlighted the importance of striking a balance between caution and creativity.
As my final takeaway, success in entrepreneurship and teaching alike requires gravitas with prominence. We need to know when to speak, what to say, when to listen, and when to adapt. Listening, especially, is critical—because if we fail to listen, we have already failed before we begin.
Finally, I want to recall what our last speaker, Mr. Amar Rajan of Mindcrater, beautifully reminded us: Philosophy may sell a lot in the future, because in truth, physics, chemistry—all of these sciences—are rooted in philosophy. That is why the highest academic award we give is not the Doctor of Science but the Doctor of Philosophy. Perhaps that is also why philosophy even appears in an iPad advertisement.
To echo those words, I am reminded of the famous lines:
“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute.
We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race.
And the human race is filled with passion.
Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life.
But poetry, beauty, romance, love — these are what we stay alive for.”
That you are here.
That life exists, and identity.
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
So I leave you with a question: what will your verse be?
I thank Viji for this reminder—that we must always think about our verse.
On behalf of the participants, I sincerely thank the organisers, the speakers, and my fellow colleagues for making this journey so meaningful.
Thank you.
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