Prof. Sen, in his letter to the then External Affairs Minister, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee on February 6, 2009 says ‘it has been a difficult choice’ (selecting a Rector). The NMG had to balance academic qualification of the candidates with their ‘willingness to spend time in Patna and the surroundings of the university as it takes shape’. He recommends three names in that order - 1. Dr. Gopa Sabharwal (Sociologist, Delhi University and Lady Shri Ram College- sic.) 2. Dr. Ramchandra Guha (Historian, biographer and writer) and 3. Dr. Pratap Bhanu Mehta (Political scientist, President, Centre for Policy Studies).

Prof Sen’s letter, written on his Harvard University letterhead, is a single page communication. It carries no detail about the selection process, search committee or annexes any document submitted by the candidates. There is no information about the total number of candidates considered for the said post. Clearly, neither any ‘wide publicity’ was given for this top job nor any rational and transparent procedure followed. Sounder processes are in place in both Cambridge and Patna University even to select a lecturer. There is nothing on record to prove that the mentor group had considered any academician from Bihar for the post. It could have taken care of at least half the difficulty- spending time in Patna and surroundings of the proposed University.


The said letter antedates the enactment of Nalanda University Act, 2010 by more than one and half years. Questions may be asked about such a tearing hurry in choosing the Rector, whom Prof. Sen wanted to be a part of NMG meeting at Gaya later that month.

Evidently, Prof. Sen is not actuated by the vision of the Nalanda University. Academic qualifications and willingness to spend time in Patna are his two considerations. It is not important for him that the Rector should have a background of ‘intellectual, philosophical, historical and spiritual studies’ as envisaged in the Act. Nor did he find it necessary to consult those who have spent lifetime in pursuing Nalanda tradition. All the three academicians mentioned are persons connected with modern or contemporary history/sociology. It is unlikely they ever get an opportunity even to spell the word ‘Nalanda University’ in their books, thesis or articles.

But the primary impropriety in this exercise is not its selectiveness but non-authorization. It is clear from the Terms of Reference (vide the certified copy) that searching/selecting a Rector (Vice Chancellor), or for that matter any personnel for the proposed University, was not a business of the Nalanda Mentor Group. Why did then the NMG spend more time in the ‘difficult task’ of selecting candidates rather than doing what was assigned to them under the terms of reference?

It smacks of a devious exercise to smuggle in Prof. Sen’s favourite candidate without observing the standard practices in Indian universities. He places Dr. Gopa Sabharwal at no. 1 although she is not a professor as mandatory under UGC rules on Vice Chancellor. Dr. Sabharwal, in turn, chose to function from Delhi curtailing the need to spend time in Patna.

This, however, is not the only case arbitrariness and favoritism in matter of appointment in Nalanda University. It was just the beginning. For Prof. Sen, fair practice need not accompany fair preaching!

Comment

comments...

White I do not doubt the genius and the integrity of Dr. Sen, the appointment of Dr. Sabharwal as the VC of NIU leaves a lot to be desired. 

The demand of a 'Bihari' VC for NIU is tantamount to Raj Thackerey's slogan of Marathi Manoos. As Mr. Alok has rightly pointed out, it will render NIU to be an 'Akhada' of politics. 

Even though, Nalanda University Act, 2010 requires that the VC should have a background of ‘intellectual, philosophical, historical and spiritual studies,’ I do not consider it as a necessity. The demand for the VC to be a scholar in the Buddhist Studies is unwarranted as well. But, the requirement of academic excellence and proven track record of administrating university affairs in various capacities should not be compromised with. 

The salary of Rs 5,06,513 per month from Delhi for a university in Nalanda must be a joke. I do not know what kind of salary Tatas and Ambanis draw from their enterprises, but not more than few dozen people in India will be making that kind of money. To the best of my knowledge, the credentials of Dr. Sabharwal do not warrant such a fat salary.

The onus is now on the Governing Council (or the Mentor Group) to clear the air over the selection process and it is also the responsibility of Dr. Sabharwal to justify her suitability for the post of VC of NIU. The mandatory qualification set by the UGC for the post of Vice Chancellor of the central and state universities requires a distinguished academician with a minimum ten years of experience as a professor in a university. Dr. Sabharwal is hardly known for her academic excellence or proven administrative capability. (I am not arguing that she is unfit for the post, but she has to demonstrate the qualifications to meet the competency requirements.)

Last, but not the least, I appreciate BiharTimes from bringing the issue to fore so that we can discuss it. Otherwise, the issue had been nicely swept under the rug by every other means of communication. This time around, BiharTimes' line of argument is not unfounded - it has copies of original letters, RTI queries, UGC guidelines, and Nalanda University Act, 2010 to back itself.

Pradeep

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Let me congratulate BT for it's continuous relentless effort in highlighting how the selection of the very first VC of Nalanda International University was influenced and bypassed the very fundamentals of ethos of transparency and integrity. I am glad that BT is not part of a chorus group who sing praise song of anything which is happening in Bihar nowadays. It is quite understandable that it causes lot of heart burn for many. I feel there are people who still suffer from the mentality that a "talent" is always handpicked by some other talented/ proven person. Should we simply accept that Mrs. Gopa is most talented and suitable person for the post of the VC and stop questioning her competency? What is her credentials & contribution in the field of Buddhist studies for which the University is being set up? Is she such a big personality in academic circle to head and lead this prestigious heritage-centric institution. Will she be able to attract talents from the world over? Instead of institutionalizing a stringent process for selecting and appointing VC, this is setting up a bad precedent - it is really unfortunate. Perhaps for this reason, Dr. APJ Kalam (the visionary behind the idea of revival of Nalanda University) did not approve the appointment of Mrs. Gopa Sabharwal and subsequently refused/declined to accept/ continue as the first Visitor (Chancellor) of this university. it is interesting to note that The President of India, Ms. Pratibha Patil (the Chancellor of this University) has not yet approved the appointment of Dr. Sabharwal, is still pending with her for past many months thus Dr. Gopa is still a VC designate.
Kudos to BT for trying to bring out truths and not being simply awed by big names and not shying away from raising very relevant questions. Your efforts are much lauded. Please keep it up.
- Prabhat Sinha, Noida

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I think the issue here is not merely a question of competency , rather most importantly is that of transparency and following the correct selection process . Mr. Alok is trying very hard to malign the BT and make accusations of parochial bias , but would he be able to completely honestly himself answer the most pertinent question that why the selection was handled in such a hush hush tone , when in India even the selection of an Engineer under the Govt of India needs to go through a gazetted advertisement and then follow up with a panel selection process . Does it mean that this so called university is not a Govt. of India initiative ? Then why are such fat salaries being paid by the govt from the Tax Payers money ?

I must laud the effort of BT that despite such stiff resistances it is still holding on and trying to initiate corrections in the system . Instead of trying to pull them down , we as Indian citizens should try and help them before we have another scam blowing up .

It is an International University ------ proposed , fine , but do we know that International University follow a system and process that is transparent , documented and has accountabilities associated with each post , but here we only have favoritism . The VC is friends with PM;s daughter so she gets the post , the OSD is friends with VC so she gets the post, the website address owner is friends of OSD so he gets the website ....... but yes we question the logic and sanity .

Why don;t we question the logic and sanity when the website is semi operational for 2 months and then goes off ? Why don;t we question , "when the spokes person takes pride in giving interviews by mentioning that though we are an International University but our website is still not up ",( maybe there is no time left after making those foreign trips) ? Why don;t we question that , "Is the VC of Delhi University less competent and is only worth less that half the salary of Ms. Sabharwal ?

Since every thing seems to be in order then maybe the Architectural design should also be just handed over , given the established traditions , maybe some friend of someone , somewhere , after all it is nothing but friends club , then why the farce of global competition , when we could not have a global selection process for an International University , where we pay salary according to global benchmarks , but we do everything under the carpet .

Great ........ Jai HO !

Parul Dewan

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I'm in full agreement with u. It is a game played by none else but by
'Honest' PM Shri Manmohan singh which needs to be exposed.
Mukesh Kumar

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Nalanda University is an international university, so demand of a 'Bihari' VC is at best a parochial one. Talent should be the only criteria.
1) We all love to hate 'reservation', but when it comes to self we start looking the other way. Are we looking at regional reservation here for an international university? Oh...yes why not we'll make it an another Patna College. An 'Akhada' of politics.....
2) I also find this demand something like Raj Thakrey's. What's wrong if he's asking everything in Maharashtra should happen for (and by) Marathis? If Biharis can go and work anywhere in the country/world, so can others.

So far no one has come with any substantial piece of information on why Gopa is not suitable? Whether she's a professor or reader is of little significance. I know some professor of PU, who would not stand the test of lecturer even.

May be I missed that, But can people enlighten me with Gopa's so called 'anti-Bihari' statement? Before terming her incomepetent, do you know about all her work? Better instead are you clear about the competency requirement?

I think lot of people commenting on her and Prof. Sen without adequate knowledge, with one even going to the extent of questioning Prof. Sen's committment to the country. I think any one who have read his book "The Argumentative Indian" would never say this. Besides, all his proceeds from Nobel Prize went to Prachi an NGO working in India.

But then, when intention is to paint someone black, make nasty insunuations and innuendoes, logic and sanity is too much to ask.