Patna,(BiharTimes): Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen on Thursday withdrew his candidature for a second term after July 2015 as Chancellor of Nalanda University, since the Narendra Modi government had not given its approval to his nomination.In a five-page letter to the Governing Board (GB) of the University, Sen wrote that he is excluding himself out of a second term, despite the GB unanimously voting to elect him on January 13.

Sen wrote that the Visitor, President Pranab Mukherjee, has not been able to give his nod to the GB’s decision because of the absence of government’s approval.“It is hard for me not to conclude that the government wants me to cease being the Chancellor of Nalanda University after this July,” the letter said.

Amartya Sen is of the view that academic governance in the country remained “deeply vulnerable to the opinions of the ruling government.”“As a proud and concerned citizen of India, I take this particular occasion to communicate my general disquiet in public, which is why I am openly sharing this letter,” he
said.

The letter said President Pranab Mukherjee had always taken a “deep personal interest in the speedy progress” of the University’s work, and it could be assumed that something was making it difficult or
impossible for him to act quickly in the matter.