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Minister
of human resources for ‘self’-development
 Many
recent decisions taken by Dr Murli Manohar Joshi show that he has been
trying to convert Allahabad University into a private limited company
to be headed by him. Probably the same fate awaits the IITs and IIMs,
reports Shobhan Saxena
The Allahabad University’s
science faculty is only a 15-minute cycle ride from Tagore Town. In the
early 1970s, it took Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, MSc, Phd over 40 minutes to
cover this distance on his broken bicycle as the cycle’s loose chain
gave him continuous trouble. In the mid-70s, he was able to cover this distance
from his small, rented house in Tagore Town to the physics department with
some ease on his Lambretta scooter. By 1977, however, Dr Joshi had solved
this problem: he stopped going to the university. For teaching and research
at least.
Today, a huge mansion – Angiras – with green, glistening tiles
on the roof and expensive Rajasthani tiles inside – stands at the
same place in Tagore Town. There are policemen posted at the entrance and
paramilitary jawans cramped into tents just outside the huge iron gate.
And in the long driveway is a big, swanky car. A very impressive rise, indeed.
The humble university professor moved on to become a Cabinet minister and
an important BJP ideologue.
But a walk through the town and university campus and a little chat with
his old colleagues, students and city’s citizens reveals a different
side of the story. It’s a story with a disturbing flavour of deceit,
of manipulation of rules, intellectual dishonesty and misuse of power. Everyone
knows Joshi won the elections but that he has lost crucial court cases is
the real story.
Joshi’s past – as professor in Allahabad – is important
because it gives us insight into his itch to meddle with the IITs and IIMs.
There are a number of professors, students, social activists and concerned
citizens here who feel Joshi’s interference played havoc with his
alma mater; and it will be the same with the IITs and IIMs. “Joshi
is converting this university into a private limited company and he wants
to be the head of this company,” says Prof MP Singh, professor of
applied physics at the university.
The spectroscopy – study of the molecular structure of crystal using
light — department of the university, which has received crores in
grants from the government, has failed to do any significant research. The
department is headed by Prof Ramgopal who is considered close to Joshi.
“He is not even eligible to be a professor. But he has been made a
professor,” says one of the seniormost professors in the department.
In fact, last year more than sixty members were given promotions in an arbitrary
manner. “Only those who could pay money or had the right political
connections were promoted. Many deserving candidates were left out,”
says the professor.
Interestingly, Prof Ramgopal and Dr KN Uttam, who did his doctorate under
Joshi, have been including their mentor’s name in the papers they
have written. “Joshi hasn’t even visited the lab in years but
they put his name on their research papers. This is the worst form of sycophancy,”
says a research scholar.
In
the recent years, many departments have been converted into deemed universities.
A new institute - Indian Institute of Information Technology – was
opened here a few years ago as a deemed university. The institute doesn’t
even have the basic infrastructure required to merit such a status. Similarly,
the Motilal Nehru Engineering College and the Ewing Christian College have
also been converted into deemed universities. Some departments have already
been converted and more are likely to be converted into the deemed university
soon. “He is dividing the university and turning it into a commercial
enterprise. He is appointing his men – all RSS supporters –
to head these institutes. And eventually he wants to be the head of this
privatised university,” says a senior professor, who doesn’t
want to be named for the fear of inviting the minister’s wrath.
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