First of its kind Hindi university in Bhopal drops engineering, 70 other courses

bhopal

Updated: May 26, 2018 22:23 IST

Two years ago, 19-year-old Rakesh Lodhi took admission in the undergraduate engineering course in Hindi at Bhopal’s Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi University, hoping that English would no longer be a hurdle in his dream of becoming an engineer.

Lodhi pursued his course in chaste Hindi with help from a few contractual teachers in the university and completed the first year of his bachelors of technology (BTech) course.

However, the state government-run university has now decided to discontinue the course from the next academic year in the absence of adequate faculty, translated syllabus, books and few students for the course. The tuition fee for the undergraduate engineering course was Rs 11,000, less than half of what one has to pay in a private college.

As many as 70 other courses, for which there were no takers in the past six years, have also been discontinued. These 70 courses include para-medical, diploma in foreign languages, masters in computer science and others.

An administrative officer of the university said the decision was taken due to poor response from candidates as people are unsure of opportunities after studying in Hindi.

At present, the university has a strength of about 800 students, most of whom are pursing courses such as yoga, naturopathy, ayurveda panchkarm, Masters in Hindi and bachelor of library sciences.

The Madhya Pradesh government introduced the concept of teaching engineering in Hindi for students who could not comprehend English.

Despite the poor response, ruling party leaders still believe that there was no problem with the government’s concept.

Instead, they blame the mismanagement of the university administration for the present state of affairs.

State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) communication cell in-charge Anil Soumitra, who is campaigning to save the university, said: “The BJP government came up with the novel idea of studies in our mother tongue to break the myth that one cannot become an engineer through Hindi medium courses. However, the university failed to implement it properly. They don’t have any inclination towards promoting Hindi. They failed to attract students due to dearth of basic facilities.”

The university, in turn, said lack of infrastructure and fund crunch were responsible for the decision.

Vice chancellor Ramdev Bhardwaj said, “Before introducing any course, we need proper infrastructure, qualified teachers and books and this is possible only with funds. We get Rs 3.75 crore per year which is not enough to provide all facilities.”

The decision, however, has hit the students hard.

Nine engineering students were compelled to shift to a private college of which seven have decided to discontinue their studies.

Lodhi said, “I can’t go back home without the degree. After the death of my parents, my brother is taking care of me and I can’t start studying all over again.”