Mysore University: No longer ‘A Place of Happenings’

Sir,

This has reference to the article, “University of Mysore: Today” by Dr. H.A. Ranganath (SOM dated Aug. 5). As an old alumnus of the University of Mysore, I was very pained to note from the article how the University has fallen into the abyss of non-performance. The truth is very bitter and very saddening.

Dr. Ranganath, my old classmate and a very venerable friend for the past sixty years, bemoans the loss of glitter, with the posts of top professors and researchers not filled for years. There is no proper academic growth resulting in loss of proper Government grants. I think Dr. Ranganath is amply qualified to speak so candidly about the dismal truth of the fall of what was at one time a ‘Forum of Free Thought’,  ‘A Community of Scholars’ and ‘A Place of Happenings.’

Dr. Ranganath has not shown any ray of scepticism in his analysis of the truth of the academic health of the University which he served devotedly for decades. There is bold optimism in the many points of resurrection he has so well suggested. His ardent desire is to see the return of the glory and so his truthful opinions about the institution.

Here I am reminded of the words of Herman Hesse, a German Nobel Prize winning novelist, who in his post World War II novel, “The Glass Bead Game” hopes for a well-ordered intellectual world, protecting knowledge against chaos and insecurity. He wrote, “To sacrifice the sense of ‘Truth’, ‘Intellectual Probity’ and ‘Loyalty’ to the laws and methods of the spirit to any other interest is treachery. If in the struggle of interests and slogans ‘TRUTH’ is imperilled, devalued, mutilated and violated, then it is our duty to resist and rescue the TRUTH, the highest cannon of our FAITH.”  In this direction Dr. Ranganath’s utterances have to be viewed.

As per his statements, ‘individual and collaborative research projects’ have almost vanished in Mysore University, because of non-appointments of many senior researchers and professors resulting in its inability to apply for Government grants or international grants. What a great loss for the academic body, which was once a ‘Community of Scholars.’ Dr. Ranganath, being at one time the Director of NAAC, very well knows how this has affected the academic health of the Varsity, without  ‘periodical health check ups.’

Universities in the USA and Japan boast of private research funds, because they have large endowments. They honestly work for excellence and so the availability of funds creates a continuous chain of events, resulting in the Universities attracting many top quality researchers and teachers. It is significant to understand here that elite Universities are not recognised by self-declarations but their academic status is conferred by outside world.

So, in these days of tough competition, students  carefully choose Universities to build their dreams, to begin new learning abilities, meeting new people to set the course for the rest of their lives. It is in this aspect I believe,  our University has suffered a bad blow and, therefore, as a renowned senior Scientist and Professor from the same institution, Dr. Ranganath expresses his agony about the present state of Mysore University. 

It is very accurate and honourable that the search for TRUTH, as done by Dr. Ranganath, is best served by an assembly or a team of many seekers and not by any one very candid individual. Hopefully, with the corrective steps suggested by Dr. Ranganath in the form of bringing in ‘Professors of Practice’ or creating ‘University and Industry linkage’, the institution can be made richer resourcefully. We can definitely see  Mysore University again as a place of happenings, where a community of scholars will recreate a forum of free thought.

— Prof. K.V. Satyan, Texas (USA), 7.8.2023

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