Education, Careers & Professional News
Varsity must be a powerhouse to ignite knowledge: former VC
Source
THE HINDU
Date
2005-07-28
Information
The former Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore and Goa universities, B. Sheikh Ali, has said that a university should not merely disseminate information, but also be a powerhouse to ignite knowledge, understanding and imbibe scientific temper.
Prof. Sheikh Ali was delivering a lecture on Mysore University through the decades as part of the 89th Foundation Day celebrations of the university. He said in an era of conflicts, harmony is more important and higher education should foster it. Referring to the speech of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar delivered during the first session of the Senate which highlighted the respect of the university in the education world, he said it is time for introspection.
Stating that there should be no compromise on the quality of education imparted, he said the university should introspect as to whether it is commanding a scholarly world.
Prof. Sheikh Ali said that the university was established in the first quarter of 20th century when a debate on the need for more universities in the country was on. The British had to be convinced of its importance. The foresight of the ruler and the then Dewan Sir M. Visvesvaraya ensured the establishment of the university. The university has many firsts to its credit. For the first time an academician was appointed as an administrator when other universities had bureaucrats as their heads , he said. The Vice-Chancellor, J. Shashidhar Prasad, said the university is subjected many political interference and pressures besides having a constraint on the budget. The university is passing through critical period facing threats from different quarters. Caste and communal feelings are on the rise and personal integrity of many is at stake.