Patna: Nalanda International University has been in news ever since its inception. The Global repute it has brought to Bihar is undoubtedly incomparable, however it has been allegedly subjected to several unfair practices since its beginning. Several allegations have been made by media, social activists and others in the establishment process of the University. Here we present a compiled list of some of those controversies based on previously published media reports.

1. The First Controversy relates to the appointment of Dr. Gopa Sabharwal as the Vice Chancellor in rather inappropriate ways.

Reports suggest that Dr Gopa did not meet the mandatory qualification set by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for the Vice Chancellors of the central and state universities. Only a distinguished academicians with a minimum ten years of experience as a professor in a university can be appointed as the VC.

It is also being said that the Name of Dr. Gopa Sabharwal was the sole name recommended by a Mentor Group headed by Dr. Amartya Sen and she was appointed as VC by the Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs. Many have raised the Question that why ministry accepted the sole name proposed without seeking a panel of names required for such an appointment.

Dr. Gopa Sabharwal was a Reader in Lady Shri Ram College DU, and has nothing to do with the Buddhist Studies, on which the University specializes. Reports indicate that she as the VC draws a salary of Rs 5,06,513 per month, double than the VC of Delhi University.

2. The Second Controversy is regarding the appointment of Dr Anjana Sharma as the Officer on Special Duty.

Anjana Sharma was an Associate Professor at Delhi University. Gopa Sabharwal and Anjana Sharma were close associates since their days at Delhi University. They have even co-authored a book together. No doubt Gopa recommended the name of Anjana for the post of OSD.

It has been alleged that Anjana Sharma draws a Monthly salary of Rs 3.3 Lakh which is more than the Salary of Vice Chancellor of any Indian University.

3. The Third Controversy is regarding Mr. N K Singh, member of Nalanda Mentor Group which also serves as the Board of Nalanda University

Mr. N K Singh is a former IAS Officer and a member of Rajya Sabha from JD(U). He name has been subjected to various controversies post the leakage of Niira Radia Tapes.More details about him can be found here.

4. The Fourth is Dissociation of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam from Nalanda International University. In 2011, Dr. Kalam refused to continue as the visitor of the University because he was not in agreement with few of the decisions made by the Nalanda Mentor Group headed by Amartya Sen.

5. In the first meeting of Governing Board (Mentor Group) in February 2011, this board nominated adviser committee to help out and two persons representing India in it are Ms Upinder Singh, daughter of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and her colleague Ms Nayanjot Lahiri, who are not experts on any aspect of the Nalanda tradition or history.

Apart from these, there has been several questions raised over financials of the University. Between 2007 and 2011, the government had to spend Rs 2.11 crore on meetings held by a mentor group.

Sources

The information published in this article has been taken from various reliable sources. Few of them are:

A scam in the name of reviving Nalanda heritage by Tehelka.com

How Amartya advanced his favourite candidate as the V-C, BiharTimes

A Reader ‘appointed’ as VC of Nalanda International University, BiharTimes