Date:07/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/07/stories/2008110760110400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Teachers urged to analyse reasons for rising student unrest

Special Correspondent

Chief Justice Ganguly asks them to embark on a soul-searching exercise

— Photo: S. R. Raghunathan

Record of achievements: (From left ) K. Meer Mustafa Hussain, Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, A.K. Ganguly, Chief Justice, Madras High Court, and M.R.K. Pannerselvam, Health Minister, at the University Day celebrations in Chennai on Thursday.

CHENNAI: Chief Justice of the Madras High Court A. K. Ganguly on Thursday called upon teachers to embark on a soul-searching exercise to find out whether the rising student unrest had anything to do with imperfections in their relationship with students.

Addressing the University Day celebrations of Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Mr. Justice Ganguly said that no institution could survive without a harmonious teacher-student relationship, the core of a university.

Wondering whether teachers could shirk their responsibility in a scenario of student indiscipline, Mr. Justice Ganguly said he was “sorry to say that not all teachers are giving their best to students.” However, Tamil Nadu seemed to a happy exception, and more so Chennai, which was excelled in medical education and was a preferred destination for patients from across India and abroad.

“Most sacred”

Terming teacher-student, or Guru-Shishya relationship the most sacred in human civilisation, Mr. Justice Ganguly said teachers must rise to their potential. They should spark interest in learners, be a source of motivation and become role models for students.

The Chief Justice urged clinicians and medical students alike to appreciate the noble ideals of the profession. “Nobody should be refused treatment for want of money… Indeed, it will be a travesty of medicine’s noble principles if that happened.”

Mr. Justice Ganguly also presented Eminent Professorship Awards to 10 doctors from various systems of medicine for being distinguished teachers.

Releasing a souvenir, Health Minister M.R.K. Pannerselvam said Tamil Nadu would soon have the highest number of medical colleges in the country, thanks to the State government’s expansion plans for medical education. The government followed a policy of broad-basing medical education, seeking to establish at least one medical college for every district. The larger plan was to meet the treatment needs of the poor, make medical education affordable to students and generate sufficient medical personnel.

This government had sanctioned more than 60 proposals to start nursing colleges, he said.

These institutions would strengthen the network of 100 nursing colleges across the State.

Health Secretary V. K. Subburaj said Tamil Nadu’s far-sighted policies of promoting medical infrastructure was the main reason for the State’s achievement in controlling infant mortality and maternal mortality rates. When India accounted for 25 per cent of 40 lakh infant deaths and 5 lakh maternal deaths in the world annually, Tamil Nadu fared much better than most Indian States.

Mr. Subburaj also urged institutions such as Dr. M.G.R. University to improve Tamil Nadu’s woeful record in research.

Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University K. Meer Mustafa Hussain, former Vice-Chancellor Major D. Raja, Registrar in-charge K. V. Leela and C. Veni, Controller of Examination, spoke.