Jarnail Singh's memoir shares fault-lines in MU
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 27 2022: While some faculty members exhibited anger when told to attend office in time, some others indulged in political manipulation to influence decisions in the varsity, disclosed former administrator of Manipur University Jarnail Singh in his latest book, 'Manipur University: Restoring Normalcy' published by Konark Publication.

Sharing his experience as administrator of Mani pur University to The Print, Jarnail Singh said that he received full support from Manipur University Teachers' Association (MUTA) and faculty members in the initial period.

After few months, some faculty members did not attend their respective offices in time when told to maintain punctuality and attend classes in time.

When steps for bringing normalcy in the varsity were initiated, some faculty members showed their anger while some faculty members indulged in political manipulation to influence decisions in the varsity, he said, adding that some faculty members even wrote to the UGC against MU administration.

Taking dives into the issues that plagued the university, the former administrator of Manipur University said that some faculty members used to give political views on TV shows against the elected government and so they have to be reminded of the rules governing their conduct in and outside MU.

However, the majority of the faculty members were very cooperative and helped in the development of the varsity.

"Even when I did not agree with MUTA, I gave them a patient hearing and never felt bad about any suggestion to which I did not agree", he said.

While stating that unpunctuality bothers him a lot, Jarnail Singh said that he never asked employees to sit late as he too want to leave office at the right time.

He added that a number of faculty members came late and left MU early which bothered him a lot.

"If a faculty member comes early and is available in his or her office, students would like to come and meet him/her and discuss issues of academic interest.

These discussions outside the classroom build the confidence of students", he added.

Jarnail Singh also said that class attendance in the science streams was good but the same in some arts streams was not satisfactory.

The class attendance in a way depicts the interest of students in that particular subject.

Poor attendance also reflects on the lack of interest created by the faculty members among students about their subjects.

In any case, there was a need to improve attendance in MU classes so that the delivery of education improves, he opined in the book.

Regarding delivery system in MU, the former administrator said that he worked with three MUSU presidents and general secretaries during his short tenure and found all of them very amenable to discipline and never went into discussion with them with predetermined notions.

There have been other issues that must have pushed MUSU into a confrontationist mode in the past, he said, adding that he discussed important issues about students' education, punctuality and need for maintaining discipline in MU with MUTA and MUSU and they always agree to improve punctuality.

He also said that he discussed issues about non-attendance of classes by some students, particularly in the humanities and social sciences departments.

When suggested action against the defaulting students, MUSU representatives always cooperated and suggested strong action so that MU was able to improve attendance in some of these departments, Jarnail Singh mentioned in his book.

Comment