<i>University and politics</i>
Photo: STAR
Nowhere in the definition of a 'University' one would find the word 'Politics' or the provision of practising politics in the university. The word 'University' is derived from the Latin 'universitas magistrorum et scholarium' means 'community of teachers and scholars'. Scholar means an 'Academic', that is , a person who works as a researcher (usually teacher) at a university. In the United States of America, the term 'Academic' is synonymous with that of the job title 'Professor'. A university is a place for learning, not politics. Unfortunately, in our country most of the public university teachers are in one way or the other associated with or involved in politics. To speak frankly, there is hardly a teacher whose name is not associated/listed with a political party or group. Immediately before the present regime took over, Vice Chancellors in public universities were being appointed on the basis of their loyalty and contributions to the ruling political party. As a result, after getting appointed, a VC had to fulfil many just and unjust demands of his political bosses, teachers and students as well! Of course, it is a fact that the present caretaker government is trying its best to free the campuses from politics through appointing neutral/less political professors as VCs of the public universities. But the problem is with the VCs appointed by the last political govt. who are still holding the post. Perhaps now is the appropriate time for the government to initiate a dialogue with national political leaders, academics and others to explore the possibility of banning politics on the campus, if not for ever but at least for a few years in the greater interest of the nation.
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