RG Lyngdoh formally installed as MLCU Vice Chancellor

By Our Special Correspondent

 Shillong: In a solemn function on Friday, RG Lyngdoh, former Home and Education Minister of Meghalaya, took over as Vice Chancellor, Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU) from Dr Glenn Christo Kharkongor who hand-held the University since its inception.

Like every new institution, MLCU too had its teething problems but Dr Kharkongor dealt with each one of those unflinchingly.

Torist Mark, former Director of Public Instruction, who is currently the State Government nominee to the Governing Body, MLCU, in his speech lauded Dr Kharkongor who he said led from the front, weathering every storm that has buffeted the University.

In his valedictory speech Dr Kharkongor said the creation of each Department was carefully thought out so that every student passing out of the University would have skill sets that are employable.

Talking about the journey, Dr Kharkongor said, “MLCU started small but with a clear philosophy and big plans. Today we have nine Departments, 140 faculty members and nearly 2500 students and we have remained true to our goal and purpose.

“Students gravitate to this University looking for something different. We hope to fulfill the aspiration of students and meet their needs. RG Lyngdoh the new VC has multifaceted accomplishments. In his hands the future is safe,” the outgoing VC said as he handed over the baton to Lyngdoh. Dr Kharkongor will continue as the Pro-Chancellor of MLCU.

In his acceptance speech, Lyngdoh gave a brief account of his life’s journey as a marketing professional with Mafatlals, Mumbai, to his joining the Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and later the Meghalaya Bamboo Chips which shrivelled from lack of fund infusion.

Lyngdoh shared about his entry into politics with the idea of empowering people and weaning them from the dependency on politics and politicians for everything.

“I gave up politics and joined the IFAD-led Meghalaya Rural Development Society also with the idea of empowering people but I found that people have become too dependent on Government schemes. The education system too is very narrow and does not empower the youth with skill sets for this competitive world. In my tryst with MLCU I found this University providing relevant skills with a value system,” Lyngdoh remarked.

Exhorting the faculty, Lyngdoh said, “We have high expectations from you but we also give you the flexibility to grow and follow your dreams. I have seen that MLCU not only teaches vocational skills but the teachers communicate and demonstrate life skills that will enable them to cope with life and also stress in the workplace.”

The special function on Friday was also organised as an in-house convocation for giving out degrees to 13 Burmese students who had graduated and had to leave for their homes. The regular MLCU Convocation which is normally held in August every year has been postponed to February 3, next year as the Dalai Lama will be delivering the Convocation address. The students were from the Department of Social Work, Business Management and Computer Applications.

The students have come as part of a scholarship programme granted to them by the European-Burmese Organisation (EBO) facilitated by Dr Achan Mungleng who has been trying to connect the ethnic communities of Burma with their Indian counterparts.

Speaking at the function Dr Mungleng, who is based in Delhi, said she was grateful to MLCU for taking the Burmese students and exposing them to real life experiences that people in the world’s largest democracy struggle with everyday.

Addressing the young graduates, Dr Mungleng said, “When you were admitted at MLCU in 2010, Burma was not a democracy. Now things have changed and you have to now go and build your country but remember that democracy comes with responsibility.”

In his concluding remarks, Torist Mark said despite the noises against MLCU, the University has been performing with transparency and according to the Act. Pointing to the repeated reference to the UGC as a degree granting authority, Mark said Section 22 of the UGC says that Universities created by a State Act are empowered to give degrees. He said it is to the interest of the private universities that they remain true to the Act.

Students and faculty and all those who have been in close touch with MLCU expressed their gratitude to Dr Kharkongor for mentoring the faculty and students with rare patience and building their confidence while they crafted out curricula and set up different departments.