Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai   

We need more land: Madras varsity faculty

By K. Ramachandran

CHENNAI Sept. 9. Academics in the Madras University want the Government to grant it a large tract of land in lieu of space to be taken over for building a new Secretariat complex at Kotturpuram in south Chennai.

The university may have to give up about four acres. The head of a university department points out that the Anna University, which may part with about 20 acres, has been promised a large tract, perhaps along Sardar Patel Road, in the Guindy-Adyar area.

The department head says the Madras University, with its focus on arts, sciences, humanities and languages, also requires more space to expand its operations.

About 50 acres at Pallikaranai or nearby areas can meet future requirments, he says. The new Vice-Chancellor, S.P. Thyagarajan, who met the Chief Secretary and the Finance Secretary today, agrees that the university needs land. But, more importantly, he feels that it must first exhibit its capabilities at doing high quality work and sustain the quality in its departments as well as in affiliated colleges, before making any demand for more land or facilities. "We should make the Government feel that we deserve more land or any other requirement," he adds.

Privately, a few senior professors note that the Anna University, after turning into a vast affiliating institution, has been asking for more land. "Today, humanities, arts and sciences are also growing disciplines," says a Syndicate member. He notes that even in sociology, new sub-disciplines such as conflict resolution, people management, ethnic and demographic studies are gaining currency and their study provides tremendous potential for the university.

Languages are another growth area.

The Geography department head, Sivagnanam, notes that if a student wanted to learn Chinese, he would have to travel to Delhi.

But with several south Indian companies moving to or establishing closer business relationships with companies in south and southeast Asia, languages such as Chinese or Sinhalese could attract more students.

In Tamil Language too, several new areas were opening up for study.

Historical and archaeological studies are gaining more importance in this part of the country, feels another senior professor in Humanities, who reiterates the need for more land.

Academic audit

However, for the moment, Dr. Thyagarajan is keen on pursuing an agenda of quality sustenance and enhancement. His charter of a dozen items includes an academic audit of the working of the departments and affiliated colleges. "It should not be seen by people as a fault-finding mechanism, but more of a tool to improve quality and accountability".

When academic quality improves, it can provide an impetus to the university to tap the potential for attracting foreign students.

While he agrees that students from developed nations might not eye a university here, Prof. Thyagarajan sees a lot of scope for getting students from the south Asian region itself.

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