Nagpur: The Nagpur University (NU) and its former vice chancellor SN Pathan have been severely criticized for the plight of the post graduate Urdu department which is headless since it was set up with much fanfare by the latter during his tenure here.
Experts, poets and critics expressed unhappiness over the NU's decision to appoint a Hindi teacher as its HoD while academicians suggested that Nagpur University can still improve the situation by appointing a teacher using its own funds.
On November 6, TOI had reported about lack of full time teachers in the department and how NU had handed over the additional charge to head of Hindi department Pramod Sharma.
Though Sharma is not a qualified Urdu teacher, NU officials claimed the department developed under him in the last couple of years. Sharma has sought one professor, one associate professor and four assistant professors for the department. Around 40 students were admitted to the first semester against intake of 60 while 20 are in third semester because of his efforts, they said. Sharma's proposal for regular faculty is stuck with the department of higher education Pune.
A former dean held Pathan responsible for the current crisis. Referring to the former VC, he said, "Those who pushed for Urdu department must have got all sanctions. But, they never bothered to ensure the department produced talent," the dean said.
Javed Ansari, president of United Students Association of Mominpura, said, "Major problem in our system is that unless there is public pressure, no work is done. I feel if all language departments are surveyed, it would be found that things are more or less same. Sanskrit department too is running with just one teacher," he said.
Ex-VC Pathan denied the charges but refused to comment on any affairs of the university and the department.
"The NU can appoint a qualified Urdu teacher using its own funds. It can a be temporary recruitment," the dean suggested.
Retired director of ASI GS Rabbani, who is also a Urdu poet, and critic, said this is bigotry and big injustice to the language. "Can't they create a post of one HoD and two lecturers for the department? How long are they going to continue like this? The standard of languages is already falling and the university is only working to worsen the situation. The aims to keep the language alive can't be achieved like this."
Syed Habib-ul-Hasan, an Arabic teacher, said, "It is wrong to run a department without qualified faculty. Only subject experts can understand the requirement of the language and students. Nagpur is fortunate to have large number of Urdu poets, teachers, students and lovers. The language will suffer greatly if there is a vacuum at the higher education level."
Research scholar, author and historian Sharfuddin Sahil doubted the learning students must be receiving at the department. "It appears an eyewash. The university is not serious about the language. The education minister and government must think about it. It doesn't matter if they get a good teacher for only two days a week, but only a qualified person must be in-charge," Sahil said.
Experts, poets and critics expressed unhappiness over the NU's decision to appoint a Hindi teacher as its HoD while academicians suggested that Nagpur University can still improve the situation by appointing a teacher using its own funds.
On November 6, TOI had reported about lack of full time teachers in the department and how NU had handed over the additional charge to head of Hindi department Pramod Sharma.
Though Sharma is not a qualified Urdu teacher, NU officials claimed the department developed under him in the last couple of years. Sharma has sought one professor, one associate professor and four assistant professors for the department. Around 40 students were admitted to the first semester against intake of 60 while 20 are in third semester because of his efforts, they said. Sharma's proposal for regular faculty is stuck with the department of higher education Pune.
A former dean held Pathan responsible for the current crisis. Referring to the former VC, he said, "Those who pushed for Urdu department must have got all sanctions. But, they never bothered to ensure the department produced talent," the dean said.
Javed Ansari, president of United Students Association of Mominpura, said, "Major problem in our system is that unless there is public pressure, no work is done. I feel if all language departments are surveyed, it would be found that things are more or less same. Sanskrit department too is running with just one teacher," he said.
Ex-VC Pathan denied the charges but refused to comment on any affairs of the university and the department.
"The NU can appoint a qualified Urdu teacher using its own funds. It can a be temporary recruitment," the dean suggested.
Retired director of ASI GS Rabbani, who is also a Urdu poet, and critic, said this is bigotry and big injustice to the language. "Can't they create a post of one HoD and two lecturers for the department? How long are they going to continue like this? The standard of languages is already falling and the university is only working to worsen the situation. The aims to keep the language alive can't be achieved like this."
Syed Habib-ul-Hasan, an Arabic teacher, said, "It is wrong to run a department without qualified faculty. Only subject experts can understand the requirement of the language and students. Nagpur is fortunate to have large number of Urdu poets, teachers, students and lovers. The language will suffer greatly if there is a vacuum at the higher education level."
Research scholar, author and historian Sharfuddin Sahil doubted the learning students must be receiving at the department. "It appears an eyewash. The university is not serious about the language. The education minister and government must think about it. It doesn't matter if they get a good teacher for only two days a week, but only a qualified person must be in-charge," Sahil said.
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