NBT: proximity to BJP gets primacy in appointments

HRD Ministry appoints Rita Chowdhury, wife of former AGP leader Chandra Mohan Patowary, as Director

Early this year, the Ministry of Human Resources and Development (HRD) cut short the tenure of the National Book Trust Chairperson A. Sethumadhavan and replaced him with former editor of Panchajanya Baldeo Sharma.

On Wednesday, the Ministry appointed Rita Chowdhury, wife of former Asom Gana Parishad leader Chandra Mohan Patowary, as the Director of the Trust. Mr. Patowary had joined the BJP last year.

Ms. Chowdhury is professor of Political Science, Cotton College, Guwahati.

With this appointment, Ms. Chowdhury joins others who have been appointed by the BJP government either for their proximity to the party or who are from its rank and file.

The HRD Ministry advertised for the post last year after its director M.A. Sikandar’s term ended in August last. Following an advertisement to the post, interviews were held in January this year. It is learnt, around 22 candidates were called and 17 appeared including Ms. Chowdhury. The committee did not find any candidate suitable and recommended the Ministry to advertise again.

The tenure of the director is for three years. Interviews for the post are held under the chairmanship of the chairperson and three other members.

Baldeo Bhai Sharma, who was in the committee which endorsed Ms. Chowdhury’s candidature, said “I do not know anything about whether candidates were rejected by a committee before me.”

Another ad, another interview

The Ministry advertised again for the same post. Interviews were held on June 17. Around 10 people were interviewed. Ms. Chowdhury, sources said, was called for the interview again. When contacted, she said she had applied again after the Ministry advertised for the same post. “I applied again after I saw the advertisement,” Ms. Chowdhury said. According to sources in NBT, the process of selection raises questions about how an individual found unsuitable for the post by one committee, gets chosen by another.

An email sent to the HRD Ministry, did not get any response. The National Book Trust was established in 1957 and comes under the HRD Ministry.

The objective of NBT is to produce and encourage quality literature in English, Hindi and other Indian languages and make them available at moderate prices. The NBT also organises book fairs, exhibitions and takes part in fairs around the world. To its credit, it has organised 21 world book fairs in Delhi as per information available on its website. The director is crucial for the administration of NBT and looking after the editorial functions of 24 editors working in Indian languages.