Frayed Egos Ruin Nalanda's Rise

The exit of high-profile academics Amartya Sen and George Yeo from the university’s governing body have created ripples of controversy on the new campus.

- Kanhaiya Bhelari

President of India Pranab Mukherjee, in his capacity as ex-officio Visitor of Nalanda University, reconstituted the governing body of the varsity on 23 November. As expected, the Presidential move sparked strong controversy, with newly appointed chancellor George Yeo resigning and Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar expressing anguish at this turn of affairs. The CM alleged, “Some forces appear to be trying to destroy the initiatives taken by us for revival of the ruined university.”

The Bihar CM adds that that he is shocked and hurt at Yeo’s resignation because the latter was one of the founder-members of the university. He further says, “I am surprised that the Union government dissolved the governing body without consulting its chancellor, which is not only an insult to the chair but also undemocratic and unfair and as such unacceptable.” Reacting to the ongoing row over the hiatus in the university leadership, Kumar said, “Both Yeo and Amartya Sen made a big contribution to reviving the university which was re-established by the Bihar government five years back”.

Nitish wrote a letter to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on December 5, expressing his anger over the dissolution of the governing board of Nalanda University that led to resignation of George Yeo as its chancellor.

He, however, has suggested the Union Government to avoid tampering with the essence preserved behind the ‘idea of Nalanda’.The two-page letter that was made public through social media has raised serious objection over the way the Chancellor George Yeo was not taken into confidence before the move. He has urged Swaraj to consult all stakeholders and distinguished academicians before taking any major decision in days to come.