Gandhian Studies Centre at AU may face closure due to paucity of funds
Sulogna Mehta | TNN | May 22, 2019, 20:14 IST
VISAKHAPATNAM: The only UGC-funded Gandhian Studies Centre in Andhra Pradesh located in the Social Work department of Andhra University is said to be on the verge of closure.
Research scholars and professors associated with the centre point out that no central government funds had been allocated since the last sanctioned five-year-funds in 2013, which was spent by 2017. They allege it is a political move to gradually shut down the centre and totally sideline Gandhian philosophy and Gandhi’s contributions to nation building.
The Gandhian Studies Centre had been functioning since 2006 funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the scheme of Epoch Making social thinkers of India. The annual funds earmarked was around Rs 7.5 lakh. Since 2017, the head of the centre Professor ABSV Ranga Rao used to run the centre from his personal funds.
Prof Rao, who superannuated from AU on April 30 this year, said, “No funds had been forthcoming from UGC since 2017, nor the university could support the Centre. I had funded on my own since the last two years and the Centre had published 25 books and many publications on Gandhian research. Now the university has placed the Gandian Studies Centre under the department of social work and it might be converted into a library in future due to lack of funds.”
A former researcher and guest faculty with the centre M Abraham said, “The Centre had been encouraging many students to undertake research and generate knowledge about Gandhian principles and works, which is relevant even in the modern context. It seems like a political move to close down the centre and let Gandhian thoughts and philosophy fade away from the minds of people and keep the new generation oblivious about the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi towards nation building. Gandhiji’s ideas like those focusing on the sanitation and cleanliness are still prevalent under the new name of Swachh Bharat, the credit for which goes to a political party. At least if a few lakhs of rupees from the university budget can be allocated annually, the Centre may be saved from being closed down.”
Research scholars and professors associated with the centre point out that no central government funds had been allocated since the last sanctioned five-year-funds in 2013, which was spent by 2017. They allege it is a political move to gradually shut down the centre and totally sideline Gandhian philosophy and Gandhi’s contributions to nation building.
The Gandhian Studies Centre had been functioning since 2006 funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the scheme of Epoch Making social thinkers of India. The annual funds earmarked was around Rs 7.5 lakh. Since 2017, the head of the centre Professor ABSV Ranga Rao used to run the centre from his personal funds.
Prof Rao, who superannuated from AU on April 30 this year, said, “No funds had been forthcoming from UGC since 2017, nor the university could support the Centre. I had funded on my own since the last two years and the Centre had published 25 books and many publications on Gandhian research. Now the university has placed the Gandian Studies Centre under the department of social work and it might be converted into a library in future due to lack of funds.”
A former researcher and guest faculty with the centre M Abraham said, “The Centre had been encouraging many students to undertake research and generate knowledge about Gandhian principles and works, which is relevant even in the modern context. It seems like a political move to close down the centre and let Gandhian thoughts and philosophy fade away from the minds of people and keep the new generation oblivious about the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi towards nation building. Gandhiji’s ideas like those focusing on the sanitation and cleanliness are still prevalent under the new name of Swachh Bharat, the credit for which goes to a political party. At least if a few lakhs of rupees from the university budget can be allocated annually, the Centre may be saved from being closed down.”
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