Syed Zubair Ahmad
The Aligarh Muslim University often remains in the news but mostly for wrong reasons. This malady lies in patronizing or condoning vested interest lobby that deeply entrenched in the university system. The predecessor of the present incumbent of the AMU, VC P.K.Abdul Azis had diagnosed this malady as he tried his best to weed out these perpetual manipulators (including some professors) from the campus. For this bold action, he paid the price of losing his job.
It is unfortunate that the present VC Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah did not continue this purging job as he overlooked these vested elements who are to be mainly blamed for a sorry state of affairs in the varrsity. He miserably failed to check those elements. The ex-army man couldn’t understand the internal politics of the vested interest lobby of teachers which always plot to get placements for their third generation offspring (grandsons/daughters) in the AMU. On the one side, they try to be in the good book of Vice Chancellor, on the other, they protect goonda elements as they resort every trick in their kitty to serve their interest.
It is said in the last four years a large number of goonda disguised as students entered into the campus.
When the present VC took over the charge of the AMU, a large number of non-meritorious and non-deserving students, who had left the varsity, came back to take admission again. The admission criteria were changed to accommodate those students in the university. Many of them had been suspended due to indiscipline. For them the main attraction was Rs 8,000 pm scholarship plus Rs 10,000 annual candidacy allowance. This has affected adversely the educational environment of the institution as good students and teachers were demoralized.
When asked to a University staffer why the VC did not take any action against such irregularity ? ‘It is the matter of concerned department and VC has no role in this matter’ was the reply.
During tenure of present Vice Chancellor, the criteria of 75 percent compulsory attendance for appearing in examination was never observed. Though the VC was serious about it and tried to stick to it, but it never happened and at the end even those with five present attendances were allowed to appear in the exams.
When the list of those students, who had short attendance, was put on notice board before the annual exams, they create a lot of hue and cry at the campus. Students facing attendance problem would start protest or sit in dharna before the VC office to press their demand to appear in examinations.
The administration succumbed to their unjust demand. Most of those who faced attendance problem had nothing to do with study. There were goondas protected by some teachers who are ‘known’ for playing dirty politics in the campus.
Like other institutions, there is a provision of ‘supplementary exam’ in the AMU as well for those students who did not pass in the examination. And if they fail even in the supplementary exams, there is another option of ‘re-evaluation’ in all universities. But the present VC was forced to introduce ‘special supplementary’ for those students who failed even after re-evaluation. Thus ‘special supplementary’ became a bypass route for all rowdy students who didn’t come to AMU to study seriously.
Of late, a new and unusual development also took place in the university as singing and dancing were promoted with zeal. A department, which was known as General Education Centre few years back had been changed to Cultural Education Center. Union Ministry of Culture is helping generously to promote dancing and singing in the name of culture. Singing and dancing had become a part of cultural events and its being appreciated by higher authorities of the varsity as well.
Pleasure posts of wardens, provosts and proctors were given on the basis of regional grouping and lobbying. Incompetents and juniors teachers were preferred for such posts only because of group loyalty and this made the situation from bad to worse.Whatever happened last week was not surprising to those who are observing the situation closely.
Also read AMU violence; time to operation clean-up
As per my observation , there should b a tight n tough admission policy so that who want to destroy this campus ll nvr qualify the test ….there should b rauds at leat twice a month in the histles but without any information giving to the students br the raid,pattern of examinations should also b changed , inspections should also b there in the classes from a special teams, also teachers should b examined in d classes. Etc….so that the weeds ll b eliminated….
I dont think that teachers should be blamed for everything which goes wrong in AMU. The basic problem is that everybody has forgotten respect, discipline, and values. They have forgotten that in what circumstances AMU were established. What was the motive of Sir Syed behind it. Junior students have no respect for their seniors, students forgot to respect thier teachers, teachers forgot to respect Vice-Chancellor. So it is not only teaching community but the whole system is corrupted. Teachers are also human being and coming from the same corrupted set up. Everybody has thier own interests and agendas. People are selfish and self-centered. VC is an outsider, they want to manipulate him. The other reason for this crisis is that people are not serious in thier responsibilities. My nephew is living in a Hall from 6-7 years but he dont know the name of his Warden and Provost. I was shocked to know that. He said they never visits the hostels and have no interactions with the students. Under this situation what would you expect from students. The hall administration don’t know who is living in the rooms whether they are students or some gunda elements are there. In our times, even bearers were know who is living in this particular room whether he is legal or illegal student. Now I have heared that even bearers do not allowed to go in the rooms. The Vice-Chancellor should restart these traditions, provosts and wardens must visit the hall on regular basis and listen the students and interact with them. I remember one incidence during my time period. My provost Dr. Abdul Mannan Siddiqui new almost every student by face, atleast, of the hall. One day he came to my room because he had a doubt that one ex-student residing with us, he did not found him in the room but he asked suddenly why you guys have four pairs of slippers in 3 student room. I was really surprised for his questions common sense. I confidently replied that it belongs to my side room partner as he left by mistake. Then he went back. We really need responsible people in AMU who love the AMU and Sir Syed’s mission.