Remembering Atal: Vajpayee’s academic records untraceable at Agra, Kanpur varsities

The academic records of former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee are untraceable at the Agra University as well as the Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU), Kanpur.

Vajpayee, who passed away on August 16 at the age of 93, did his post-graduation in political science (1945-47) from Kanpur’s DAV College, which was then affiliated to Agra University. In 1966, DAV College was affiliated to Kanpur University.

The local BJP unit has sought the academic records of Vajpayee so that they can be placed in the upcoming museum in Kanpur.

Earlier too, both the universities had searched for the records on the demand of the local BJP but failed. After Vajpayee’s death, the two universities will begin the exercise afresh.

Vice-chancellor of Agra University Arvind Dixit said Vajpayee’s academic records were not available with the university.

“DAV College got affiliated to Kanpur University after it came into being in 1966. Consequently, all the records of DAV College were handed over to Kanpur University. No academic record of Atal ji is available with us. However, we will try to find the records,” Dixit said.

According to CSJMU vice-chancellor Prof Neelima Gupta, the academic records of all the students of a college are maintained by the university to which the institution is affiliated.

“Since Atal ji did his post-graduation from DAV College, which was then affiliated to Agra University, his records should be with the same university. Still, I will try to trace Atal ji’s records at CSJMU,” she said.

Principal of DAV College Prof Amit Srivastava said: “The college does not have Atal ji’s degree as it used to be given directly to students. However, some of the records related to him may be there at the college. As the matter dates back to pre-Independence era, it would be difficult to trace the records. A team has been formed to find out Atal ji’s records,” he added.

Kanpur district unit president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Surendra Maithani said he had talked to the vice-chancellors of both the universities who had assured him that they would look for the records.

“Both the universities should try to find Atal ji’s records so that it can be dedicated to the nation. If the two universities fail to trace the documents, I will approach the chancellor of state universities and governor Ram Naik and chief minister Yogi Adityanath to seek their intervention,” he said.

Maithani added he would meet the CSJMU VC on Tuesday and ask her to look into the old records of the university.

First Published: Aug 21, 2018 13:20 IST