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by Dr. I.C. Chakravartty, Professor Emeritus

In 1959 I received my M.Sc. degree in Mathematics from Gauhati University, located in Assam, India. In 1960, I came across a research paper written by Dr. Andrew Paul Guinand, who was the Chair of the Mathematics Department of the University of Saskatchewan in Canada at that time. He invited me to come to the University of Saskatchewan to work under his supervision, but I was also offered a job as a part-time sessional lecturer at the University. In late 1963, he told me that he had accepted an offer from Trent University to become the founding Chair of the Mathematics Department there. Dr. Guinand assured me that he had made arrangements with Trent University so that I could come to Trent with him and finish my Ph.D. Trent was very generous in offering me a graduate fellowship to enable me to finish.

In September 1964, I arrived in Peterborough and spent my first night at the Crest Motel on Lansdowne Street West. That motel still exists today in the same location. In a few days I rented an apartment in East City which was simply the attic of a house at 12 Bruce Street. Professor David Gallop, retired Professor of Philosophy, is the current owner of that house. Of course, in 1964, the campus was not in existence. I remember one day I took a drive with Dr. Guinand towards Lakefield by Highway 28. He pointed out to me the site of the future University from the highway and said: "Somewhere there will be Champlain College, the first college to be built at the site."

Saturday, October 17 1964, was a red-letter day in the history of Trent University and of Peterborough. It was the inauguration day for Trent University. On that day, streets around Rubidge Hall were closed and chairs were laid out at the intersection of Sherbrooke and Rubidge Streets, where about 2500 guests were seated. The procession was led by two students: Moira Alford, president of the Catharine Parr Traill College student committee, and Robert Lightbody, president of the Peter Robinson College student committee.

In the first academic year of Trent University, there were 102 undergraduate and three graduate students, including myself. All three of us attended the inauguration ceremony in 1964, and I still have that little booklet of program entitled: "Trent University Official Opening Ceremonies." It was a bright sunny day and the ceremony was very impressive. President Symons' speech on that day still rings in my ears. I quote a paragraph from it:

"The philosophy which inspires Trent is based upon the conviction
that education is, inescapably, an individual experience - individual to each student, to each other, and to every scholar who may come to it. And this philosophy is reflected in the teaching methods of Trent University which seek to encourage each student to find a close and direct contact with his teachers through the tutorial and seminar approach to instruction. The founders of Trent University have kept in mind the dictum of Henry Adams that, 'A teacher is for eternity. One can never tell where his influence ceases,' and they have thought therefore to place the first emphasis upon creating a University here in which teaching and scholarship are of prime concern."

Early in January 1965, I submitted my thesis to Dr. Guinand for his review. He suggested a few minor changes and indicated to me that I was ready for the defence. I must mention here that the late Professor T.E.W. Nind, who joined Trent in 1966 and became the Dean and subsequently the President of Trent University, was a member of my Ph.D. committee at Saskatoon and attended my defence. Professor Nind did ask me some interesting questions on my thesis at the defence. I have always admired Tom Nind as a very honest, sincere, and efficient person. Tom Nind followed my career with a great deal of interest, and was always helpful to me with his valuable advice, and I remember him with a great deal of gratitude and affection.

On the evening of my defence, I received a telegram from President Symons offering congratulations on my Ph.D. I stayed back in Saskatchewan for about a week after my defence visiting old friends around Saskatoon, and then returned to Peterborough. On my arrival at Trent, a reception dinner was arranged by the University at Peter Robinson College, and the event was attended by almost all the faculty members of Trent at that time.

The day before my departure for India, I went to say good-bye to President Symons in his office. Towards the end of this visit, he suddenly asked me, "Would you like to come back here as a member of the faculty?" True to his words, I received a letter from President Symons in 1967 inviting me to join Trent as Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics.

I arrived in Peterborough in June 1967. The newly built Champlain College, the first college in the campus, was partially opened in January 1967. I was allotted an office in the C-section of that college. Throughout my career at Trent, I remained affiliated to this college till my retirement in the year 2000. I am still nostalgic about this association with Champlain - that was my second home. Renowned historian, the late W.L. Morton was the first Master of Champlain College. It was compulsory, for both faculty and students, to wear gowns in those days; black gowns for faculty, and green gowns for the students. Gowns were expensive, and initially I thought I would be at Trent only for one year. I was therefore reluctant to invest in a gown for six dollars a month. Faculty had to wear these gowns to college dinners and council meetings, for teaching and other academic occasions. In those days we had a college council meeting every month. We used to gather in the senior common room for drinks and then go for dinner at the Great Hall, where faculty would sit at the high table, and students would sit below in their green gowns.

In 1968 the University offered me a tenure stream job. I found it very difficult to make a decision. I had a tenure stream job in my hometown in India, and all my relatives were in India. But at the same time, my research was going extremely well at that time, and I was really enjoying my teaching at Trent. After a great deal of soul-searching, I finally accepted the offer and my one year appointment became a life-long commitment.

Initially, Champlain College was a men's college and Lady Eaton a women's college. As demand for residence accommodation for women increased, Champlain became co-ed, with separate sections for men and women. But demand from the students grew to make the college truly co-ed by mixing men and women on the same floor. I remember some very lively debate among students of Champlain in this connection. At that time I was a don in the E-F section. When it became co-ed, there was a problem. In the E-F sections, there is one washroom in the second floor, and one in the fourth floor. So naming one washroom for men and the other for women would create problems. So to resolve this problem, I called a meeting of the students in those sections in my apartment one night. Discussions were lively. One student said: "What are we worried about here? We should make both washrooms co-ed. The human body is beautiful, we should not be ashamed of it." The washrooms did become co-ed, with a sign on the shower door with "Men" on one side and "Women" on the other so that the person taking the shower could flip the right side out.

For me, coming from a foreign country, donning at Champlain College was a wonderful experience and I learned a lot about Canada and its culture from the resident students. When I was a senior don at Champlain living in the E-F staircases, the famous Canadian author, the late Margaret Laurence was a "Writer in Residence" at the College.

Looking back at my career at Trent spanning over 33 years, I certainly do not regret my decision to accept a permanent position at Trent and be a part of this wonderful institution and this wonderful country. I think Trent has done a great job in distinguishing itself as a unique institution. Of course, from time to time, Trent has gone through difficult times. I have lived through two faculty strikes here, and those were not very pleasant. But the most depressing period was perhaps in the early seventies. When Professor Tom Nind took over the presidency from President Symons in 1972, the University was already in financial trouble, with an accumulated deficit of $95,000. In 1973, President Nind proposed some drastic measures to control the runaway deficit. Some of these measures included: all administrative and service departments were to be reviewed to eliminate a number of senior positions; Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Physics faculty to be cut by one-third and the technicians by half; departments of Biology and Geography were to be merged into a Department of Ecological and Environmental Science; Physics and Chemistry to be merged in a Department of Physical Sciences; Rubidge Hall to be shut down; French and Spanish departments were to be merged; the German Department was to be closed down. The University was in turmoil, and the mood was somber. Rumors abounded everywhere that the Government would shut down Trent. Dr. Guinand raised the possibility of faculty lay-off in our department, but he had also already thought of a solution if that happened. "If that happens," he proposed, "We should take cuts in our salaries and save the positions." Of course, being the kind of person that he was, he volunteered to take the lion's share of that cut himself. But Trent survived this crisis and right now I would say things are looking pretty good.

I consider myself very lucky to be associated with this great institution for nearly 35 years. The University has treated me well. During my tenure at Trent, I have received many honours and distinctions: The Symons Award for excellence in teaching and for exemplary concern for students; the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Association Award for outstanding contribution to university education; Distinguished Professorship at Champlain College, etc. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those students, ex-students, faculty, staff, colleagues, and administrators who wrote wonderful letters in support of all these nominations. Special thanks to all those hard-working secretaries who worked for me and have been so kind to me throughout my career at Trent.

Biographical Sketch of Professor Iswar Chakravartty Professor Iswar Chakravartty was a graduate fellow and instructor at Trent in 1964-65. In 1967 he became Assistant Professor of Mathematics, and retired from Trent in June 2000 as Professor Emeritus. During his tenure at Trent, he served as the Chair of the Mathematics Department, Senior Don, Senior Tutor, and Acting Master of Champlain College, as well as taking on various other roles. During his thirty-three years of service at Trent, Professor Chakravartty has received many honours and distinctions. In 1993, he received the title of "Distinguished Teaching Fellow" from Champlain College in recognition of his outstanding achievements as a teacher and his dedicated service to the University. In 1991, Professor Chakravartty received the very prestigious ocufa (Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Association) teaching award for outstanding contributions to university education.