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Bihar is in the path of progress,
this is claimed time and again by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. And
to the utter surprise, how the international media and the US
Congress report is praising Bihar government. God knows in which
area Bihar is developing, the fact is far from the claims of
Nitish led NDA government.
Leave the other areas, talk about
the higher education in which Bihar is still lagging behind from
almost all the progressive states of the country. Call it the good
fate of Nitish Kumar or his government, during the first term of
the government two proposals for setting up Central universities
came in the form of AMU (Aligarh Muslim University) Special Centre
and Nalanda International University.
Both the proposals were like a precious gift for the educationally
backward state of Bihar, which doesn’t have any central university
to its name. Quite incidentally, the proposals for the two
universities were offered in the year 2008. Even three years after
the proposals, the government of Nitish Kumar shown lethargic
approach to establish the centre. However, the establishment of
these central universities became a part of politics, and somehow
the “Vikas Purush” Nitish Kumar is responsible for this.
Initially, the proposed AMU Centre in Kishanganj became a part of
politics. The multi-crore project of Aligarh Muslim University for
a mega campus offering education from school level to higher level
including professional courses didn’t get proper response from
Bihar Government. Initially Nitish Kumar offered 100 acres of
land, which was increased upto 243 acres in Kishanganj.
But, the Bihar government kept two
conditions, first the land will be given on lease for 30 years and
it will be not officially transferred to AMU. Next hurdle was the
illegal encroachment done by the tribals on the guidelines of a
local political leader of Kishanganj. Another issue, the land was
offered in three parts that altogether was not good to run a
massive university centre. The VC of AMU denied to accept the
controversial land following his visit to Kishanganj on May 22,
2010.
Since then, the Government of Bihar is delaying the issue by
giving illogical statements like we have already offered land to
AMU but the VC is not accepting. Just of fulfill the formality,
the Bihar government invited the AMU VC again on July 11,2011 and
shown three new sites, which are public agricultural land and
acquisition of 250 acres land is not an easy job.
The VC of AMU also visited a land
offered by a local resident of Kishanganj Afzal Hussain at Pothia
block, which is considered as best site by the AMU team. Once
again, the land offered by Afzal Hussain became a part of
controversy and the DM of Kishanganj doesn’t come forward to
officially accept the land and transfer AMU. The proposal of AMU
Centre is hanging between the Bihar government and AMU VC due to
land transfer issue.
The Nalanda International University, a brainchild of former
President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam got support from centre government
and Nitish Kumar as well. In fact, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam conceived
the idea of the Nalanda International University as the President
of the country. Even after the completion of his tenure as
President of India, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam continued to take
interest. The government of Bihar appointed Kalam as the Visitor
of the Nalanda International University. In February 2008, Dr
Kalam accompanied Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to see the proposed
site where the 400 acres land was acquired for NIU. During that
visit, the Chief Minister was attacked by the local farmers with
mud and stones alleging that they have not been paid proper
compensation for the land acquired from them.
Nitish Kumar and his government was giving proper attention to the
Nalanda International University. However, a couple of days back,
Dr A P J Abdul Kalam dissociated himself from the proposal of the
Nalanda International University. In a reply to the e-mail sent to
senior Patna-based journalist, K K Singh, the information about
dissociation of Kalam was given by his Executive Secretary, H
Sheridon. The message reads: “With reference to your mail, we
would like to inform you that Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, is no more
involved in Nalanda University.”
Earlier, Singh wrote an Open Letter to Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen
and sent a copy to Dr Kalam. The Patna based journalist wrote the
letter on the appointment of Ms Gopa Sabarwal, a Reader in Lady
Shri Ram College, Delhi University, as the Vice Chancellor of the
Nalanda International University. The letter expressed anguish and
shock over what is happening on this front. Singh also questioned
the role being played by Mentor Group in the appointment of the
VC, who lacks the required experience.
What is the reason behind the Dr Kalam’s dissociation from the
proposed Nalanda International University and appointment of the
Vice Chancellor it is not clear. Talking with media the Chief
Minister said “I have nothing to do with this appointment. This is
not our issue. The Centre has appointed him. I want that this
University start functioning soon. I have not left any stone
unturned in this regard. When the Centre made an Act in this
regard and we declared our Act null and void. We have even
provided land for the Nalanda International University."
Whatever is the reason behind the Nalanda International University
controversy, this is a big shock for the state of Bihar. People
residing in Bihar had gained some hope for getting higher
education in the state with the proposals of AMU Study Centre and
Nalanda International University. But the lack of coordination
between the state and central government, and some vested interest
of political leaders is going to cost the people of Bihar. In
short, with such political negligence only the deprived people of
Bihar are going to suffer and this will take the state to backfoot.
Nitish Kumar, not only concentrate your attention to steal the
headlines of media with your tall claims, Bihar wishes to see the
real development on ground level not on papers.
Mohammad Mudassir Alam is
a New Delhi based
freelance journalist
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