Prof. Jacob Aikara: A Tribute to a Gentleman Social Scientist

 

Prof. Jacob Aikara (1941-2023) – A Relentless Scholar in a Good Man for All Seasons

(Editor – Rajagiri Journal of Social Development 2004-12)

A career researcher academician, Prof Jacob Aikara, was a thorough professional. He went about his tasks as a researcher, in the stimulating but very conducive academic environs of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.

 

Known endearingly as Chackochan in his family circles, Jacob was born in the verdant Kottayam district of Keralam on September 8, 1941.  He completed his school leaving certificate meritoriously from Mannanam St Ephrem’s High School, and his higher education in Pune University from where he completed his Master’s and Ph D in Sociology, and beginning his career as an educator there.  He was awarded the prestigious Full Bright scholarship and he completed a post-doctoral programme from the United States and joined TISS as Reader in the research unit for Sociology of Education in 1987.

 

He is remembered by his students for his matter-of-fact approach towards engaging sessions on social problems of India.  Despite being provoked by the students, he would remain non-committal towards any position regarding the issues, for he felt that it was for them to form their stand rather than being influenced by his on politics regarding them.  That is indicative of his intellectual and academic integrity, which was sensed by the young social work students, who were charged with enthusiasm and passion, and wanted to know the position of their professor.  However, he would accommodate their requests for change in pedagogy, allowing opportunities to experiment with student led sessions, which, after a while did not show signs of sustainability.

 

Sociological research was his forte, and without creating much noise about it, he went about it in a systematic manner. He led the department which had young and seasoned researchers with divergent view points harmoniously, with no one having to compromise on one’s stance on issues. 

 

Besides independent and team research for the unit, he was instrumental in guiding several scholars in the track of research and publication. Several of them vouch for the support they received in this regard. I recall with gratitude his support in forming a theoretical perspective for my MA research project while being a student at TISS, as well as later on, helping me publishing papers in the journal he was editing.

 

His typical academic bent of mind, did not deprive him of administrative abilities. Besides heading the research unit on Sociology of Education for almost two decades, he also guided the national institute as its deputy director from May 1998 till his retirement in 2004, and as officiating director between November 1999 to July 2000.  He was appreciated for his unbiased, helpful disposition in his administrative tenure.

It was a blessing for Rajagiri College of Social Sciences that he decided to shift to Kochi.  When our then director Rev. Jose Alex CMI invited him to join us and guide the college in establishing its journal, Rajagiri Journal of Social Development, he didn’t put forward any conditions to accept the offer.  And thus, post-2004, Prof Aikara became a Rajagirian.  In no time, he managed to get the paper works done for initiating the journal, and the journal was on the rails as scheduled.  As the founder editor of RJSD, his meticulous planning in advance led to the journal maintaining respectable  standard and coming out at regular intervals for almost seven years.  

 

Though it was not his task to teach, he willingly took up the task of sharing the classes on Sociology for Social Work and when we introduced the new course in Environment and Disaster Management in Social Work curriculum, he volunteered to take the course, as there was no one having a specific background in the subject.  I recall his willing participation in the planning meetings and in the department level outings, one of which was hosted by him, at his new residence in the neighbourhood of the college.

 

TISS campus remembers his commitment to fitness.  Thanks to his initiative a badminton court was laid on the campus, and senior faculty members including him played on the campus regularly, with students as well drawing inspiration from the model.  Keeping himself slim and trim, he showed great agility and stamina on the play court.

 

It was indeed a shock, when what could be described as a minor accident took a vicious turn on March 16, 2012, to incapacitate this vibrant presence for ever.  Being grazed by a two-wheeler passing by, as he stepped out of his car, after parking the same, he lost balance, and fell to the ground, perhaps, hitting his head on the floor.  However, he managed to get up, only to experience severe discomfort, and then to be taken to the hospital without any delay.  The injury of the brain did not heal, and he became permanently immobile also losing his capacity to respond.  The very gentle care given by his wife, an inspirational model in marital partnership, sustained him through the long eleven years of confinement to his home – the only permitted movement being that on a wheel chair.  He was released of that bondage on 9^th of May 2023.

 

Together with his students and erstwhile colleagues, Rajagiri academic community, salutes this stalwart Sociologist of our country.  We recall with great esteem his commitment to learning, his intellectual honesty, academic integrity, willingness to take responsibilities, readiness to mentor youngsters in the path of research and publication, and above all, being the gentleman that he was! He was never heard speaking ill of others. He acknowledged his faith in law, and was proud to go by the rules in his personal life as well as in the offices he managed. The on-line gathering organised by TISS to commemorate him, brought forth the multi-faceted goodness of Prof. Aikara - a good man, in a world, where 'a good man is hard to find'.  Prof. Leena Abraham, his erstwhile colleague, and the current department head of the centre for research in Sociology of Education at TISS, summarized his profile thus: “He was a pillar of strength and support to his colleagues and they remember him as an esteemed colleague and role model at the Centre for Studies Sociology of Education. His high ethical and academic standards guided the work of the Centre that he headed for more than two decades.”

I recall with gladness and pride my good fortune of having been his student and colleague. I regret that I could not meet or greet him post his accident, and could not bid him farewell.

“In the frame of fame of such great scholars, there is no fear of aging or death” as Bhartrhari points out – they become eternal. Salutations to a noble soul for his genuine presence and committed service! May his spirit rest in joy and peace eternal!

P.S. A personal favour through an official process

Remembering him also gives me an opportunity to recall an interesting incident (worth naming controversy) involving me as a student at TISS. For the MA programme, research project was an elective, equivalent to 3 normal elective courses. I was one among the few (less than a dozen) students of our 100 plus strong batch, who had made that option.  But being an eleventh hour person, I did not make adequate and expected progress in submitting the reports for periodic review by the research guide Dr. Janki Andharia.  Seeing the total lack of response from my side, she made a memo sent to me, asking an explanation on this matter. My room mate and a very systematic student, Anjal Prakash, (currently Dr Anjal Prakash, a leading global expert in water related studies and policy circles), had completed his research project well in advance and had been observing my lackadaiscal approach to the whole thing. But the memo did its work, I started producing volumes of report which were being regularly corrected and revised according to the suggestions of the guide.  Finally, I managed to submit a copy on the last moment, working sleepless in the last few days.  It was completed and submitted to the library as per requirement. The general practice was to submit it to the library officer in-charge, who would also see to the binding of the report, in the format prescribed by the institute.  But next day, I got to learn from someone that if asked, the library in-charge would let us have the copy and permit us to go for a fair print, as the binding would take place only after a day or two.  I felt that this would be good, as I didn't feel that the print was good, and that the pages, spelling etc. were in proper order.  So next morning, I got the copy from him, got a better print, considered satisfactory to me, and submitted to the library.  I forgot the rest of it, as my concern was that of merely fulfilling the minimum eligibility requirement.  

On my return, after more than a month, for the convocation ceremony, I was surprised to learn that my research was considered for the best research project.  However, my good friends Anjal and another batch mate, who had done real hard work, felt this unjust, as somone who did a last minute haphazard work was getting the award, diminishing the process involved, whatever be the final outcome - report be. But the complaint had a twist, that I had crossed the deadline and with the support of the guide had added new material after the deadline - which was totally untrue.  With just about one day available for convocation, the institute decided to suspend the award, and instituted an enquiry.  I was quite unruffled, as I had nothing to hide, and any consideration for award itself was more than enough for me. 

I came to know that my guide had given just the minimum grade required for the project to be considered for award (B or B+); and she had not forwarded it; rather when the committee scrutinising the projects found something different in the report, suggested her to recommend that for the award consideration.  And finally the committee had zeroed in on that itself!! Studpendamente! 

The convocation took place - of the possible 3 awards by a candidate, I had two of them from my department - that of best performance in the exams and of field work. 

But it didn't end that easily.  Here comes the role of Prof. Aikara, who was appointed as a one man commission to do the enquiry.  And he called me and gave me an appointment to appear before the commission and give my statement, which I did in all honesty.  But when it came to that I had some perplexity as to whether this was going in some wrong direction, whether unwittingly, I had violated some norms, and whether the degree would be cancelled etc...  And to my surprise, he had put on the aura of an impartial judge, not the familiar Malayalee professor Aikara on the campus. However, with that over, I did not wait at the institute, I vacated the hostel and came back.  I have forgotten what else had happened, whether we had a conversation on that, or whether I received any letter in that regard etc. What I know for sure is that the commission found no violation nor malafides in my conduct, and I was exonerated of all charges, though award was not given.  Nor did it ever occur to me to ask for that, as, as such, the award was not announced, and there was no public or personal communication regarding the award or its suspension. 

I felt he had dealt with the issue in a very matter-of-fact manner, with no favour or prejudice.  And I feel grateful to him, now (that time, I hardly had any botheration about it), that justice was done to me through him - or at least unjust allegation against me was cleared by him.