The cascading impact of the indefinite postponement of Indian Science Congress (ISC) can be huge on the State government and the Osmania University as it would send a wrong signal to the scientific community, including several Nobel Laureates, from across the country and the world who have already made their travel arrangements.
University authorities say that several Nobel Laureates who use the occasion to visit India and also engage with other universities and science institutions for lectures and exchange of views make their travel plans in advance. Itinerary is also prepared well in advance for such busy people. Suddenly cancelling their visit is bound to send a wrong signal, says a senior professor wishing anonymity.
This is the first time in the ISC history that the programme was postponed indefinitely and reasons cited on the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) website were the inability expressed by the Vice Chancellor to conduct the event.
Reluctance visible
Sources in the university said that a senior functionary in the government is said to have told Vice Chancellor Ramchandram to write to the ISC expressing the university’s inability to conduct the programme due to students unrest. After some delay, a harsher message forced him to write to the ISC to postpone the event.
University authorities say there was no proactive role from the government and no meeting was conducted to identify the preparedness needed for such a massive meeting. “The reluctance was evident right from the beginning and none in the government showed interest,” a senior faculty involved in the ISC said. “The government that was so keen on conducting GES and World Telugu Conference avoided ISC preparations for strange reasons.”
Exams rescheduled
Professor Ramachandram said that the university was fully prepared to conduct the event. “Several committees worked for the past three months tirelessly to ensure smooth conduct. In fact, the university changed the examination schedule for this purpose. At one point of time, the university was flexible and was willing to organise the inaugural event outside the campus and the remaining sessions on the campus even if it meant incurring more expenditure and inconvenience.”
Academics close to the government agree that the event was a great opportunity for Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao to win over the alienated students, who are angry over absence of job notifications on expected level. “He could have sent a positive signal promising all the support for the university and the ISC. Cancellation will reflect more on the government than the university.”
The event was another opportunity to improve the infrastructure and some recall how Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu used it to improve infrastructure in Tirupati when the Sri Venkateshwara University hosted the ISC in 2017 January. He stayed there for three days to oversee the arrangements for the conference and also the Prime Minister’s visit.
City Police Commissioner V.V. Srinivasa Rao said they have not given any report for postponing the event.
