After heading the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) and University of Mysore (UoM) as Vice-Chancellor, K.S. Rangappa now looks forward to playing a role in policy-making on higher education.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Rangappa, who is the JD(S) candidate for Chamaraja Assembly constituency in Mysuru, said he set his eyes on politics after retiring as Vice-Chancellor of University of Mysore in January last year, hoping to bring about positive changes in the field of higher education.
“After carving out a name for myself in the field of education and administration, I want to play a role in policy-making and serve the people. To do that, one needs to enter politics,” he said.
Also, he felt that academics do not command respect after their retirement. He contrasted the situation in foreign countries, where academics stay on till they are 80 years or are mentally fit. “Unfortunately, we do not have that culture in India. I want to change that,” he said.
Mr. Rangappa said he had not dissociated himself from academics even after his retirement. Apart from working as an honorary advisor to a Chinese company and working on an Israeli project, he said he continues to guide around eight Ph.D. students, who had registered under him before his retirement.
Post-retirement
After retirement, Mr. Rangappa said JD(S) leaders H.D. Deve Gowda and H.D. Kumaraswamy invited him to join politics and he obliged. To improve governance, the party leadership is keen to have on board subject-specific experts from different fields including education, he said.
Incidentally, Mr. Rangappa is related to Mr. Gowda. His son is married to Mr. Gowda’s granddaughter.
Though the announcement of party ticket to Mr. Rangappa kicked up a row with the party’s leader in Mysuru Harish Gowda, who was aspiring for a ticket threatening to contest as a rebel, the former said he was not worried.
Mr. Rangappa was also dismissive about the charges levelled against him on the alleged irregularities reported during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor of KSOU and University of Mysore. “I have discharged my responsibilities as per the law. Though three enquiries had been held on the charges, there has not been a shred of evidence against me,” Mr. Rangappa said, dismissing the allegations as “politically motivated”.
