If you are choosing scholars, how would you prefer them — ‘distinguished’ or ‘eminent’?
Distinguished, it seems, is higher in the pecking order and more pre-eminent than eminent while selecting vice-chancellors and teaching faculty. Industries Minister R.V. Deshpande, who earlier held the Higher Education portfolio, was at pains to explain the distinction in the Legislative Assembly a few days ago.
He, on behalf of his absent colleague and Higher Education Minister T.B. Jayachandra, was moving the Karnataka State Law University (Amendment) Bill 2016, to comply with the revised UGC norms. However, replacing the word ‘eminent scholar’ with ‘distinguished scholar’ in the Bill resulted in a heated exchange between him and Congress MLA K.R. Ramesh Kumar. Mr. Ramesh Kumar questioned the moral and ethical standards of institutions such as UGC and the Medical Council of India and accused them of amending rules either to enable the appointment of politically well-connected people or deny posts to eligible professors who were not acceptable to the government.
Mr. Deshpande tried to placate his colleague by citing the meaning of the two words from the dictionary, adding that the State was legally bound to replace them. Opposition members echoed Mr. Ramesh Kumar and urged the government to reintroduce the Bill after consulting experts. That the Bill was passed later is another matter.
Music for
VVIP ears only
Hampi, seat of the famed 16th Century Vijayanagara empire, is known for its architectural splendour in stone. Its relics make it one of the most sought-after international destinations.
Tourists throng the town for a glimpse of the monuments. But when it comes to the musical pillars, they return disappointed as the Archaeological Survey of India does not allow anyone to go near them, leave alone tap the pillars to hear the ‘singing’ stones. The rule, though, does not apply to VVIPs, top politicians, bureaucrats, senior IAS and IPS officials, or their entourage. These visitors move about freely inside the pillared mantap and also get to listen to the musical notes even as tourists, who have paid for their entry, watch visibly, upset. While many tourists agree with the need to preserve the heritage, they angrily ask why the ASI cannot ensure the same treatment for all.
Meet the
other Kharge
How does it feel to share your name with a famous person? Ask Mallikarjun Kharge of Bidar. No, this Mr. Kharge is not the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, but the principal of a local college.
Interestingly, the Bidar principal is the nephew of his famous namesake, who is the Kalaburagi MP and former Union Minister. The Siddharth College, where he works, is run by the People’s Education Society that was founded by his politician-uncle. Both were named after the village deity at Waravatti in Bhalki taluk, where they were born. “At times, people make me feel like a celebrity,” says the principal. “The letters I get are addressed as Lok Sabha member, Congress leader or former Minister. Earlier, I would try to tell them that I was not him and all their attention and respect are actually intended for him. Now, I have grown tired of doing it. I explain my name and connection only when someone asks about it.”
The ‘secret admirer’ of Siddaramaiah
Is Y.S.V. Datta of the Janata Dal (Secular) scared of appreciating Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s recent budget for 2016-17? The Chief Minister believes so. During the discussion on the Chief Minister’s record 11th budget in the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Datta appreciated the State budgets that Mr. Siddaramaiah had presented during the JD(S) years in the late ‘90s and during the Congress-JD (S) coalition regime of 2004-05. But he criticised his latest as lacking in vision and progressive policies. In his reply, Mr. Siddaramaiah justified his new proposals and said the present socio-economic dynamics are different from the earlier years. He went on to state that at heart, Mr. Datta secretly appreciated his budget but outwardly commented on it for the sake of appearances. He even urged Mr. Datta to say so openly without fear. Immediately, noticing JD(S) leader H.D. Revanna’s discomfiture, the Chief Minister said the former Energy Minister “is my good friend. That’s why he did not speak on the budget. If he had, he would have only applauded it.”
Muralidhara Khajane,
M. Ahiraj,
Rishikesh Bahadur Desai,
and Nagesh Prabhu
