Wednesday, February 17, 2016

A Tale of Two Universities

It will be sometime before the addiction to the daily paper delivered at home wears out and I move over to  the Internet driven options. Till then I continue to be a victim of not so subtle biases of urban journalism. Not having the gumption or the physical strength to ascertain the truth first hand, I indulge in adding to the numbers of armchair writers with views to share, searching for “likes” on the Face book page! 

I share my views today on the happenings at the two Universities in the North and South of the country.

Of the two, the first episode in Hyderabad is the more tragic. Rohiths suicide note[1] reads like a work of poetry, full of meaning and anguish at the environment around him. Rohith does not hold anyone responsible for his act. If, however, this act received momentum from the humility of being driven out of the Hostel, then that is truly tragic and avoidable. That second  act was clearly political, initiated by an immature Minister dabbling in student politics and aided by an equally immature Minister at the Centre desiring to score brownie points for the party. 
  
Our nation holds the promise of becoming the fastest growing economy of the world, raising millions out of poverty, the manufacturing hub to the free world. This depends on the availability of an educated young class. Sadly the crown jewels amongst the Universities are falling prey to political machinations of a few, dictated and driven by selfish immature politicians. Vice Chancellors however erudite they be, show their true character when they fail to live up to their conscience and sense of fair play.

The JNU saga is one more case of an Administration gone to the dogs. Nobody feels it odd that the University is recognized as a Leftist one. A University may have students sprouting various ideologies, but for the University itself to claim that recognition is clearly indicative of political interference. To me the events on Campus ( if at all it is honestly reported) relating to a hanging months ago, coming so close to the happenings in Hyderabad is too coincidental for words!! One party is playing politics here to make up for loss of face in the other. Sad, sad…

With apologies to the Bard,”…something is rotten in the state of education” in our country.



[1] I read the note in: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/dalit-student-suicide-full-text-of-suicide-letter-hyderabad/

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