UoH VC's Bungalow...

UoH VC's Bungalow

Before starting, I would like to say that I am not writing to defend someone or some act, nor to be good to someone. So, please do not make any personal comments in reply. This is regarding the article which came in yesterday’s DC regarding the renovation cost of UoH VC Bungalow and is shared, tagged in FB and being discussed and debated in some places at UoH too.

At the very begging, I also do agree that the cost seems little higher and could have been less as it is only a renovation work and the place, building and structure already exist. According to me it’s the inefficiency of the university engineer and other officials who failed to negotiate for a reasonable pricing. It may also be valid considering the place and what has been ordered. This also shows the sensational journalism. DC may be on the top of this and most of them are probably our former students writing by the indication of some babas sitting in the campus who are of different motifs and benefits. While we organise something good, literally they (J) do sleep and people from outside come and cover those and they are very eager to cover this kind of news for triggering several issue in a fractured campus. I request the news agencies to measure the depth and consequences of news before publishing in the name of 'special correspondent'.

Anyway, now come to the point, regarding the need of a VC Bungalow at a university. A university should be 24 hour learning system and we should make sure that everyone should be present all the time. A VC is no exception and as a head of the institution he should be present always. It also gives the opportunity to the head of the institution to look, observe and measure the daily growth of the university. It may also give us the opportunity to do a dharna in front of VC House in the middle of night if that situation occurs!

I do believe that, unlike other things a VC Bungalow is a matter of prestige for any university. Till now, whatever universities I have visited, I found excellent VC Houses. For example, let’s start with Hyderabad; OU, Manuu, EFLU and all others have nice VC Houses. I went to GBU, Noida which is a state run university; they do have a gorgeous VC House. Last year, I went to Dhaka University; the VC House is an ancient building of 1905 built by Britisus with lavish lawns and gardens and I wonder any minister of that country lives in such a House in the heart of the city. I heard that central varsities like AMU, JMI to some state one, almost everyone has a VC Bungalow which they are proud of.

In case of UoH, let’s go back to little earlier; as like other universities, UoH too have a VC Bungalow and our former VCs used to stay there. As it became old with time and our previous VC stayed outside the campus, it became a place can’t be lived. When the new VC joined UoH, he thought to renovate it instead of staying outside in a rented flat and thus it stared.

Considering all the facts, I personally do support the idea of renovation of the UoH VC Bungalow. As per my information the new VC House is not a place for VC’s living alone. It will also be used as a VVIP Guest House. For that purpose some rooms have been prepared. There is a need of VVIP Guest House in UoH because we can’t not accommodate everyone in Lake View Guest House or run to Tagore International House for an important lunch or dinner. I have seen the difficulties of elder and important guests like Mahasweta Devi staying here. So, while you think of inviting Romila Thapar or Narendra Luther or anyone else (I know they do not mind to stay in any place but we should respect someone’s age, achievements and status too) you should have a place to accommodate them too. It will also give the opportunity to conduct important meetings of the university as BHK used to do. Similarly, I heard that the ground floor of it will be an Art Gallery of our SN School and our students and it may showcase some other donated and important art and crafts too.

Finally, why can’t a VC of a central varsity who almost matches the rank of governor of a state or anyone else can’t have luxury arrangements for him or her while our ministers and other higher officials enjoys all other things! Finally, I do support that in a university like UoH which owns a huge area, provides all other facilities, the VC who works 10 to 8 and reaches office again at next day 10, teaches at the class, guides research scholars, mentors young academicians and encourages on related things, quite humble, approachable, reachable and so on should have all the rights to stay in an excellent Bungalow and there is nothing wrong in that.