Karnataka - Mysore   

Vedic varsity plan may encounter resistance

MYSORE: The BJP Government’s proposal to set up a separate university for vedic and Sanskrit studies from the Central funds allocated to develop the University of Mysore into a centre for excellence, is unlikely to see a smooth implementation.

With the Government making it clear that the centre for excellence, proposed to be set up at Melkote in Mandya district, would eventually become a separate vedic and Sanskrit university, the propriety of using funds allocated to the University of Mysore for the purpose has been questioned.

A debate has begun in academic circles here over the Government’s attempt to “divert” a part of the funds allocated to Mysore University for the setting up of a separate university.

Though the Mysore University Syndicate was scheduled to take up the issue during its meeting held on June 28, the matter had to be deferred, as the IAS officer C.N. Seetharam, who had been deputed by the State Government to brief the Syndicate members about the proposal, did not turn up.

But, the Government’s proposal is expected to encounter stiff resistance whenever the Syndicate takes up the subject. For, the Government is not only planning to use Mysore University’s funds to set up a separate university, but also free the 117-year-old Oriental Research Institute (ORI), a repository of thousands of ancient palm manuscripts, from the control of Mysore University and bring it under the proposed university.

The Government’s decision to use a part of the Central funds for the proposed varsity has come more than a month after the University of Mysore sent a detailed proposal to the Human Resource Development Ministry and the University Grants Commission on using the Rs. 100-crore grant.

During May this year, the University of Mysore sent a proposal for using about Rs. 40 crore for “Biodiversity and bio-prospecting project” and Rs. 60 crore for infrastructure development of the varsity.

With the Government deciding to use Rs. 10 crore out of the Central funds for the centre of excellence at Melkote, it remains to be seen how Mysore University can accommodate its (Government’s) plans.

Acting Vice-Chancellor of Mysore University T.C. Shivashankarmurthy confirmed that the University of Mysore had already sent the proposal to use the entire Rs. 100 crore for the biodiversity project and infrastructure development of the university.

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