New Delhi: Heaping further disgrace on the Nalanda University project, the Bihar Times is in possession of two more documents that reveal how plump posts were created and offered to favour friends. Dr. Anjana Sharma, Associate Professor, Department of English, Delhi University (DU) was accommodated in Nalanda University as Officer on Special Duty (University Development). Not only was this done without mandatory public notification but this plump post was created without obligatory sanction from the Ministry of Finance. She is a friend and collaborator of Gopa Sabharwal, controversial Vice Chancellor, in writing two books commissioned by Penguin India. Her biography on the website of department of English, Delhi University testifies to this connection.
Dr. Anjana Sharma in her letter dated December 27, 2010 to Registrar, Delhi University ‘informs’ that she had been ‘offered’ the position of Officer on Special Duty - University Development, Nalanda University with immediate effect. She writes that the offer letter is enclosed. She says she needs to go on deputation leave (duration not mentioned).
But the ‘enclosed’ letter referred to – written by Dr. Gopa Sabharwal to Delhi University Vice Chancellor Dr. Dinesh Singh was not actually ready. The same was signed on December 30, 2010 whereupon Dr. Anjana Sharma promptly submitted the two in DU. Thus her letter was actually diarized on December 30, 2010. Dr. Sabharwal’s letter to Dr. Dinesh Singh, VC, DU dated December 30, 2010 is significant. It exposes the deceit and arbitrariness happening in name of Nalanda University. It reads in parts-
“In order to take the University project forward and to specifically handle external relations, University communications and academic matters, the University has identified Dr. Anjana Sharma, Associate Professor, from the Department of English for appointment as Officer on Special Duty, University Development.
“A sub-committee of the Governing Board of NalandaUniversity, headed by Prof. Amartya Sen, has given concurrence to this appointment at a meeting held in New Delhi on December 20, 2010”
The above two paragraphs from the letter makes the arbitrariness clear. The University did not ‘select’ but ‘identify’ a particular Associate Professor from DelhiUniversity who happened to be close friend and professional collaborator of Dr. Sabharwal. Her responsibilities are not specific and span across external matters, University communication and academic matters – each as different from the other as chalk to cheese to Cadbury chocolate. It is clear that the object was to favour her friend and carry on the book project from NalandaUniversity headquarters at R.K. Puram, New Delhi.
The letter acknowledges that the appointment had the approval of Prof. Amartya Sen. Pof. Sen’s role in ‘selection’ of Rector (Vice Chancellor) Dr. Gopa Sabharwal has already been exposed by the Bihar Times.
Dr. Sabharwal is particularly careful to protect at friend's career, at the cost of public exchequre. She writes-
“For the record I would also like to inform you that for the duration of the Deputation term, a period of three years initially, Nalanda University will remit all pensionary benefits, provident fund contribution, Teacher’s welfare fund, and leave salary for Dr. Anjana Sharma to her parent institution i.e. Delhi University in order to safeguard her seniority in Delhi University service”.
She signs and stamps the letter as Vice Chancellor, NalandaUniversity. Dr. Sabharwal – while her official designation was Vice Chancellor (Designate) - was misrepresenting herself as Vice Chancellor from the beginning. But as late as September, 2011 the MoS External Affairs Mr. E. Ahmed in a written reply in Rajya Sabha stated that no Vice Chancellor had been appointed. The minister was actually shying away more from the question of selection process of Vice Chancellor than the fact that somebody was occupying that office.
Irregular and arbitrary appointments appear to be the norm at Nalanda University. Dr. Gopa Sabharwal, herself appointed stealthily on Amartya Sen's recommendation was authorized to carry on with further irregular appointments.
