LU?s present state pains students of past

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI recalled the good old days of the past at the 86th foundation day celebrations of the Lucknow University (LU) on Saturday. But they also expressed remorse over the toll student politics was taking on studies in the present times. Even as LU felicitated them, the alumni took a trip down the memory lane. They felt that education was the last hope for humanity and teachers must inspire to excel.

Alumni gathered on 86th foundation day advise dialogue

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DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI recalled the good old days of the past at the 86th foundation day celebrations of the Lucknow University (LU) on Saturday. But they also expressed remorse over the toll student politics was taking on studies in the present times. Even as LU felicitated them, the alumni took a trip down the memory lane. They felt that education was the last hope for humanity and teachers must inspire to excel.

But absolute absence of students from the function left them pained. They were disappointed with the present state of the students union and political interference in student politics. Most of the alumni urged the university administration to sort out differences amicably as without students, no university could thrive.

Says RP Rastogi, former V-C of BHU: “Teachers like Acharya Narendra Dev, Birbal Sahani and others were stalwarts yet, they were very simple. I sent my bio-data on a postcard for lecturer’s post and V-C Acharya Narendra ji appointed me without even an interview. Universities in those days were involved in national activity. It was here at the LU that I learnt to find a way when there was none.”

Alumni like Zafar Ali Naqvi, chairman of a committee formed under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, recalled how he and his friends used to take a stroll around the IT College and Kailash Hostel. “But we always kept ourselves confined to the Lakshman Rekha,” he said, adding that the involvement of students union with political parties was not a good sign.

Absence of students from the hall worried PC Joshi, a social activist. “To me, this university is no less than Cambridge or Oxford. The university has a heritage and has produced great stalwarts. It has also produced good women students and I wish LU had called them and honoured them too.”

Eighty-nine-years-old GL Gupta, the oldest of the alumni, announced proudly that he was still very young. He talked about values and principles. His days begin with meditation, exercises and pranayam. He dedicated the Law building of LU second campus to former President Shankar Dayal Sharma, another alumnus of the university. Sharma’s son, AD Sharma, was also present on the occasion.

Journalist Rahul Dev regretted the fact that the temple of learning had turned into “akhara” (wrestling ring). “I wish students and office-bearers of the students union had attended the function. Interaction is a must to resolve the deadlock. There is no reason why students cannot be corrected and the university must try and not give up so early,” he said.

“Political parties had started influencing student politics way back in the 1970s,” he said. Rahul Dev asked the V-C to hold dialogue with students’ leaders. SR Hashim, professor emeritus of at the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, New Delhi and Navjeewan Rastogi highlighted constructive work being carried out by LU student union in the past. Director of IIM Kozhikode Krishna Kumar recalled an incident in which Lucknowites did not celebrate Diwali when a student was killed in an agitation.

Says SHA Raza, Lok Ayukta of Uttaranchal: “In those days, there used to be conflict of ideologies between student leaders. Elections were contested on ideological grounds. Leading poet Kumud Narain was of the view that teachers like Radha Kamal Mukherji, Radha Kumud Mukherji, Prod Siddhantha were great source of inspiration for students in the good old days. Minister in the present government Ashok Bajpai expressed happiness at being honoured. CMS founder manager Jagdish Gandhi was in tears to see the present situation of LU. s