By Viju Mangalore for Daijiworld News Network
Mangalore, Mar 22: After three successful trials, this Mangalore University lecturer is all set to break the Guinness Record by undertaking the longest lecture marathon.
Dr A Ramesh lecturer, Department of Applied Botany, Mangalore University will deliver the longest lecture for 101 hours at the Old Senate Hall in Mangalore University, Konaje on March 26, 2006 in attempt to break the previous record of 88 hours.
It was during one of his internet browsing sessions that he learnt about Musawazi of South Africa who delivered a marathon lecture for 88 hours and four seconds on ‘Democracy’. The worm that wriggled in his mind then motivated him to aim for the stars.
“I have taken it as a challenge and am determined to achieve it,” said 35 year-old lecturer in an exclusive interview with Daijiworld.
Till date the longest reported marathon lecture by an Indian has been by Narayanam Shivashankara who delivered a marathon lecturer for 72 hours and 9 minutes on ‘Fundamentals of Hindi Grammar.’
Dr A Ramesh has been preparing for this event since the past 9 months and has already conducted three practice trials. The first trial lasted or 12 hours, the second lasted for 36 hours and the third for 45 hours.
The topic for the lecture by Dr Ramesh is ‘Molecular Logic of Life.’
The entire venture is estimated to cost Rs 1.25 lac and Dr Ramesh has been footing this from his own members.
“The speaker, in order to break the record, is not supposed to pause for more than 30 seconds in course of the lecture. However, he could take a pause of 15 minutes after every 8 hours of lecture. Moreover two experts out of whom one expert in the subject should supervise the lecture for not more than 4 hours and the number of audience should be different for every four hours,” explained Dr Ramesh.
The grand finale would bring together more than 39 subject experts from Dharwad, Mysore, Bangalore and Mangalore universities to evaluate the lecture and arrangements have also been made to ensure that the audience specifications are met.
The event will be documented thorough video cameras and could be sent to the Guinness Book of World Records, Dr Ramesh said adding that the required paper work for the same has been completed.
“The Guinness people were quick to respond while the Limca Book of Records hardly responded, lamented Dr Ramesh who does not have any financial support in this venture.
Hailing from Bangalore, Dr Ramesh completed his B Sc from Mysore University, M Sc in Seri culture from Mysore and his PhD. He has twice been qualified in the eligibility test for lectureship and joined Mangalore University as lecturer in Applied Botany.
Having taken up the road tread by few, Dr Ramesh’s 101-hour marathon lecturer, if enters the Guinness will go down in the history of the world. Mangalore will be proud for being the epicenter for such an event.