Division among OU teachers over stir

WHAT HAS the week-long strike of the Osmania University Teachers' Association (OUTA) achieved? Even as several teachers are apprehensive about the financial and professional benefits to be extended to them after the strike, it has definitely painted a damaging picture of the teachers as well as a clear division among them over the way the strike was handled.

With the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. D.C. Reddy, himself accusing his teachers of instigating students, several teachers sailing with the OUTA, too, expressed displeasure over the way students were used for their cause.

Admits a senior teacher of Arts College on the condition of anonymity: "Whether one admits or not we have sent across a wrong message to people. The way we allowed students to use the camp for anti-VC campaign and teachers' response whenever student speakers passed disparaging remarks against the administration did the damage".

It was a very unfortunate sight at the Arts College when senior teachers sat to listen to the speeches of all and sundry. Most of the speakers included students and their leaders, who were in no way related to the campus. And interestingly, none of them had an idea of the intricacies involved in fulfilling the teachers' demands. But, more awful was the reaction of some striking teachers, who cheered the speakers, whether they were students or class IV employees, taking a dig at the Vice-Chancellor and the Government.

One discomforting fact was that the strike also saw a clear division among the teachers with some professors coming out openly against the path adopted by the OUTA. Interestingly, most of these professors submitted their resignations to the OUTA from their administrative posts in support of the strike. However, one of them clarified that their opposition was against the way the strike was being handled and not against the strike itself.

Not just the teachers but even a section of students too are annoyed with the OUTA's attitude. "They have used us for their benefit but where were they when the administration was so harsh on the closure of hostels, payment of dues or deployment of heavy police to suppress our strikes," asks a research scholar and activist of the National Students Union of India.

Now, the moot question is even if the OUTA disagrees that the students were used (rather misused), why didn't they come out with a reply to the Vice-Chancellor's open accusations?

Courses in classical arts

IT'S A centre of excellence for enhancing the language skills. But, if the plans of the administration fructify, not just the language notes but even musical notes would flow on the campus from next year.

The Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages (CIEFL) is planning to introduce courses in classical arts from next academic year, according to its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Pramod Talgeri.

"We want the CIEFL not only to be a centre for foreign language studies but also a centre for promotion of Indian culture and tradition," he says. What adds strength to his statement is his love for classical music that has been exhibited through various shows organised in recent times in the "Bawdi" of the campus. An abandoned well till Prof. Talgeri took over, the "Bawdi" is now excellently renovated and projects a magnificent look.

With the interest shown by him, it is now turning out to be a centre for all classical music evenings in the city. And the latest one was the annual "Pandit Motiram and Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroh" conducted by Pandit Jasraj in memory of his father.

Centre for microware engg.

AS PART of its programme to encourage research at the university level, the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has chosen the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Osmania University, for setting up a Centre of Excellence in Microwave Engineering.

The DST approved the project submitted by Dr. V.M. Pandhari Pande, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, and a sum of Rs.30 lakhs has been granted for the new centre, which would carry out research and training programmes in the field of microwave integrated circuits, antennas for space communication, radar, navigation and satellite application.

R. RAVIKANTH REDDY

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