Wednesday 21 September 2011

Does Amitabh Mattoo deserve?

Jammu university came into being in 1969 after years of struggle and it was considered as one of the best institutions in the country not-so-long ago.

The faculty in the University was highly qualified and with a vision and were known both in and outside India for their academic brilliance. Prof Yog Prakash (Physics Dept), Prof Gian Chand (Urdu Dept), Prof Sansar Chand (Hindi Dept), Prof Som Nath Bhakri (English Dept), Prof D N Saraf (Law Dept), Prof A C Bose (History Dept), Prof Wadia & Prof Wakloo (Geology Dept), Prof M R Puri Mathematics Dept), Prof Y R Malhotra & Prof A K Kaul (Dept of Bio-Sciences), to mention only a few, were outstanding teachers. Besides, they had the leadership qualities and were highly respected. The teaching faculty was dedicated and committed and did justice to the noble profession they had willingly joined.

There were politician teachers as well but they failed to vitiate the atmosphere on the campus. The fact of the matter is that no authority either in the University or in the government dared to take cudgels with the teaching faculty. So strong was it.

The Jammu University produced a number of Vice-Chancellors. Prof J N Bhan of the Economic Department was the first from Jammu University to become the first Vice-Chancellor of the University. Prof Satya Bhushan, Prof M R Puri and Prof Y R Malhotra were all from Jammu University who led it for years and quite successfully. Leave aside a few acts of omission and commission on their part.


Things started deteriorating with the appointment of Amitabh Mattoo as Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University. He not only politicized the institution but also promoted sycophancy. He pitted teachers against teachers and he could do so because the ambitious and weak teachers willingly walked into his trap. Some teachers compromised their self-respect for foreign tours and some for out-of-turn promotions.

 The Jammu University Teachers Association, which used to act as the watchdog, was rendered ineffective, directionless and leaderless. And, it all happened because the weak, meek and ambitious teachers allowed themselves to be used, misused and exploited by Mattoo. He discouraged teaching and encouraged the sycophant.

For example, a number of teachers were withdrawn from their parent departments and they were assigned administrative duties. The loaves and fishes of office turned them more ambitious and the result was further deterioration.Mattoo left the University as a disgraced person. Because of his political links, Mattoo was again brought in and the government wanted to appoint him as Vice Chancellor of the Central University in Jammu. In January 2011, various students organizations across Jammu held joint protest demonstrations against the appointment of Prof. Mattoo as VC Central University (CU) and burnt his effigy.

In a joint statement, these organizations alleged that Prof. Mattoo is a 'tainted person' who had misused the platform of Jammu University during his tenure at Jammu University as Vice Chancellor and held him responsible for downgrading the academic standard of University and its mismanagement.  They further said that the protest demonstration against Prof. Mattoo shall continue till the HRD Ministry withdraws his name as VC CU Jammu. "We will welcome any person as VC CU Jammu irrespective of caste or religion but will not compromise on Prof. Mattoo's appointment this time', the students leaders claimed.

Students termed Mattoo's appointment as VC CU Jammu despite widespread protest demonstrations as broad daylight murder of democracy and extension of British Raj and took a very strong note after viewing it as onslaught on the dignity. Mattoo's appointment was termed as a Sinster design.

Our government and HRD Minister had better designs for Mattoo and he was appointed as first Director of Australia India Institute. Isnt there any better and more eligible person across India that Govt of India couldnt find anyone else and went ahead to appoint Mattoo inspite of such tainted image and bad performance and such wide protests by students across the streets of Jammu? Is it Kashmiri Pandits - Congress card thats again working for Mattoo? Were all other worthy Vice Chancellors, mentioned above, were less competent than Mattoo, that they were never elevated to such high ranks?

We cant expect anything better than this from a government that say any person earning more than Rs.32 ($0.66 approx) per day in Indian cities are not considered poor and wont be eligible to take benefit of Government's schemes meant for the poor.Its shameful in all its forms and versions.

1 comment:

  1. Partly do not agree with KP - Congress card.
    1. After Indra Gandhi's rule , no KP has ever been given same authority in any inst. in JK.
    2. KPs hold congress resp, for their exodus as Rajiv G, despite repeated requests did not act from 87 till 90 against NC and people who were sending young kashmiris to Pak for armed training.
    3. Congress had some loyal KP voters before 89, as against NC , congress worked and represented Pro India sentiment in kashmir. Which most KP's were alligned to. After Rajiv- Farooq accord however congress let him have his free will bartering for shared power in JK.
    4. Mattoo dosent find many takes inside the KP community.

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