Sir,

This letter is in response to Prof. K.S. Rangappa’s remarks on granting autonomy to B.N. Bahadur Institute of Management Sciences (BIMS) in his interview (Former University Vice-Chancellor Speaks; SOM dated Apr.16).

Though it is important to grant autonomy to BIMS to be independent and more practical oriented, University of Mysore (UoM) should not hand over its institution to some private players or foundations to run MBA course. The BIMS and UoM have highly qualified faculty to run management course on their own. What UoM should do is allow BIMS to be independent and chart out its own action plan to be on par with IIMs and other reputed management schools in India. To be on par with IIMs, UoM should provide necessary infrastructure and recruit highly qualified faculty to run programme along with some industry liaisons.

Dr. B.N. Bahadur is interested in taking over the institute and run BIMS on their own. The BIMS is part of UoM and no space or building should be handed over to any private individual or organisation. The UoM has been running MBA programme since 1974 and has created a solid foundation. Just because of Dr. Bahadur has given funds for physical infrastructure development, it is not that BIMS should be handed over to him and his Foundation.

Like any other alumnus, B.N. Bahadur has given munificent donations to UoM to upgrade the Institution at the University.  The UoM acknowledged his immense contributions by renaming University Management School as B.N. Bahadur Institute of Management Sciences and also conferred honorary doctorate to B.N. Bahadur in 2007.

Once the University space is allowed to be given to private institutions and individuals, a day will come when those who have money will tear apart UoM campus and the whole idea of why this University was started will be vanished. The acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dayanand Mane has taken the right decision in the recently concluded University Syndicate Meeting not to handover this great higher education institute to Dr. Bahadur.

– N. Vasantha Raju, Govt. First Grade College, Periyapatna, 18.4.2017