The tough posture struck by the Manipur University Teachers Association and the subsequent resignation by a number of Head of Departments from their designation against the process of appointment of the new Vice Chancellor, Dr N Bijoy, is indeed a sad commentary on the highest seat of learning in the State. More such resignations are in the offing with the Deans set to join the resignation spree if the stand of MUTA is anything to go by.
Dr Bijoy, former Superintendent of RIMS has already shown his mettle as a capable administrator while he headed RIMS and it is yet to be seen how he will manage the affairs of Manipur University but already MUTA has drawn the battle line against the process of his appointment.
The grievances of MUTA appear understandable and yes the charges they have hurled against the Chancellor, Governor Ved Marwah, are serious for the question here is not only about appointing a person to an office but entails the future and prospect of a university which is rightly regarded as a place where ideas germinate to transform society.
Already the teachers' body has accused the Chancellor of taking more than a cursory interest in the appointment of Dr Bijoy as the new VC and has even gone to the extent of accusing the Chancellor of attending the meetings of the Search Committee which should short list the names of the probables and submit the same to the Chancellor. By a logical extension, the teachers' body is questioning why the Chancellor should take such a keen, personal interest in the appointment of the new VC while his job should be to just pick one from the short listed names submitted by the Search Committee.
As we understand, a university should not be equated with any Government undertaking or department and as such appointing the VC of a university should not be taken as just another appointment being effected by the relevant authority. In many ways the VC is the face of the university and to a large extent, the manner in which the VC disposes his duty will determine the fate of the university.
We are not saying that the Chancellor committed an error in picking Dr Bijoy as the new VC, rather we think Dr Bijoy has already shown his credential as a capable administrator but the furor raised by MUTA is deeply disturbing not because they have protested the manner of the appointment but because their very protest reveals the deep malaise within the university.
Having said this, we would like to say that the appointment of Dr Bijoy as the new VC must have taken a number of MU watchers by surprise for it is not very often that a person from a non academic background is appointed as head of a university.
Let there be a debate over this question, but the point to be kept in mind is that what ultimately matters is how the new incumbent faces the challenge ahead. The post of the new VC calls not only for academic brilliance, but a capable manager of man and material.
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