Editor,
North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) is in the local media daily for the wrong reasons. The article, “Why NEHU is burning again,” by NEHU Prof H Srikanth shed some light on the background behind the problems in NEHU. Prof Srikanth wrote “ True, the VC is not responsible for everything . But he cannot disown his responsibilities…..”
I am personally very sad with some streak of guilt, that NEHU is falling from grace since I was also part of the three member selection committee which selected the VC. The Chairman was an ex-VC of the Atal Behari Vajpayee Hindi University who only spoke and wrote in Hindi. His letter to me was also in Hindi for which I had to seek help to decipher its full meaning. I thought the stakeholders concerning NEHU as well as the public need to know how the selection was done.
The selection took place around the Covid pandemic period. There were about 300 applicants from all over India including from servings VCs of many Universities with outstanding credentials. Two meetings were held online. The first meeting decided on the criteria for shortlisting on the basis of age, eliminating those who were about to retire. Also other factors like research papers published, number of PhDs mentored, etc., were also considered. The second meeting decided that each of the three members would shortlist 15 applicants based on their discretion and judgment. The penultimate shortlist included some common names and the list being called for interview worked out to about 35.
The final interview took place in Delhi. A good number appeared online and some turned up physically. A few didn’t appear at all. If I’m not mistaken the current VC of NEHU appeared online. At the end of the interview we were told by the officials of the Ministry of Education to select five names confidential only to us. All through, the factors that were weighing on me was that the selected person should be primarily familiar with the culture , milieu and complexities of NEHU as an institution as well as of the Northeast besides possessing all the necessary academic credentials. The selected person would also potentially enjoy the confidence and cooperation of the other stakeholders of NEHU considering also the controversies around the then incumbent VC .
The final five names were selected. The name of the current VC was proposed by the Chairman. He was not in my list among the 15 earlier shortlisted by me. Truth be told, the Chairman had his say and we all agreed on the five names. The speculation behind the Chairman’s choice was that it had come from the more superior authority and that political ideology was a prime consideration and also an overriding factor in the choice .
When the name of the current VC was announced, I was not surprised. We met after he took over charge . He definitely sounded very positive among other things about addressing the issues that plagued the institution especially about the CBI cases going on. He requested me to help in identifying an appropriate independent person who could conduct a one man inquiry. I found one and he met the VC. Nothing came out of it and the inquiry died a natural death. The VC being new had limitations in getting the compliance of his subordinates to cooperate with the inquiry. The other factor is the lack of communication skills of the VC himself .
The purpose of this narration is to relieve myself of any complaisance in the choice of the VC. Even more formidable is for all to know how the predilections of the current political dispensation in Delhi reigns supreme in all Government academic institutions; not only in NEHU but all over India . I only pray that some solution emerges to end the current suffering of NEHU before it goes into ICU.
Yours etc.,
Rudi Warjri
Via email
The Al Smith Dinner
Editor,
A formal white tie dinner which became an annual event and eventually a tradition where funds were raised for Catholic Charities supporting children of various needs was founded in 1945. Hosted by either the Archbishop or the Cardinal of New York, the Al Smith Dinner is in honour of the 42nd Governor of New York who grew up in poverty and later on became 4 time governor, Al Smith. In the words of Theodore H. White, it became “a ritual of American politics.”
In 1984, Walter Mondale, the Presidential candidate of the Republican Party offended the Catholic Church in USA by skipping the Dinner Ritual. At the front of the ballroom of the Waldorf- Astoria Hotel on the five-tiered dais, was supposed to be the Archbishop at the center of the second tier with Mr Reagan on one side and Mr Mondale on the other. And with Walter Mondale’s absence it was evident where the Catholic vote was shifting. His absence was an insult to the Archdiocese of New York, the Archbishop and the Cardinal. His actions also irked the public and drew criticisms from all over. The elections did not go very well for him. He faced a crushing defeat, winning only his home state of Minnesota and the District of Columbia, securing just 13 electoral votes compared to Reagan’s 525—a margin that remains one of the largest in U.S. history. He also lost the popular vote by over 18 million, receiving just 40.6% of the total.
Kamala Harris traded an iconic Catholic event for something she considered more politically rewarding. It wasn’t a smart move to court Catholic voters. And it showed in the votes she received yesterday. And not only her, it’s the whole Democratic Party. Barack Obama should not have criticised Donald Trump for playing ‘Ave Maria’ at his rallies. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer should not have appeared in the video that allegedly shows a mockery of the Eucharist. And Kamala Harris should not have said, “You guys are at the wrong rally” to someone who said, “Jesus is Lord” at her rally.
Donald Trump handily carried the Catholic votes, 56% to 41%. And what is more important is that he fared even better when it comes to the White Catholic votes. He captured 60% of the White Catholic votes.
Well, after this election, one can surely say that future Presidential candidates will think twice before skipping the Al Smith Dinner as the Catholic sentiments and votes surely are the deciding factor and they decide who will be King for a term of 4 years!
Yours etc.,
Elandina Kharsyntiew,
Via email
Inflation the poor person’s enemy
Editor,
Donald Trump won the presidency for a second time, riding the promise to fight inflation. There is no doubt inflation pain helped him more than anything else to win the election. Inflation snatches from the poor and the middle class their right to health, education, and even their right to live. In India, rising prices with rising unemployment and inequality have made the situation for a large section of Indians unbearable.
Steep hikes in the cost of medicine, medical treatment, and educational fees deprive more and more people from getting health care and education. Who will check the skyrocketing increase in education fees and medicine prices in India? Where is the regulatory authority?
More government schools, colleges, and hospitals are needed to check private monopoly. The government should not surrender the health and education of the people of India to profit making machines.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata