One of the oldest universities in the state is in a shambles with potholed roads, dilapidated buildings, lack of basic infrastructure like clean toilets, good canteen and hostel facilities. Lakhs of students pass out of Bangalore University, crores of rupees come through grants from UGC and the state government, but BU’s condition never changes. Will Monday’s surprise inspection by two ministers set the ball rolling for a major overhaul of the university which has been badly hit by the ego war between those entrusted with the job of running it?

Areas of concern
Administration
Since taking over as Vice Chancellor, Dr N. Prabhudev has been in the news more for his reported differences with other stakeholders of Bangalore University, than for taking it forward academically or otherwise, with even his few attempts in this direction meeting stiff opposition. While he may have tried to do his bit to bring in reforms in the way the university is run, his many run-ins with staff and administrative officers have hogged the limelight. His battle with former registrar Prof. M. G. Krishnan and registrar (evaluation) Prof. M. S. Talwar was well documented. It ended with Governor H. R. Bharadwaj appointing the Justice Vasista Commission of Inquiry, and both registrars receiving an unceremonious send-off. Peace prevailed for a while with the government appointing the VC’s men at the helm of the university’s affairs. But soon a section of the syndicate members made their opposition to him clear.

The VC also continues to be at loggerheads with the teaching and non-teaching faculty and has virtually stopped visiting the Jnana Bharati campus fearing a threat to his life by a group of students. His decision to appoint a special officer for the examination section and the Justice Ramakrishna Commission to inquire into various malpractices has got him brickbats too and his detractors allege he has scant regard for seniority and insults those who do not toe his line. But Dr Prabhudev vehemently denies all such charges and has of late kicked off more controversy with his decision to hold an investigation into the affairs of B.Ed colleges.

Examination section
Various decisions taken by the VC on examination reforms and new PhD guidelines have not won him many supporters either. His decision to introduce OMR sheets, an online internal marks awarding system, digital evaluation, cancellation of grace marks, the custodian system, and several examination centers has led to new controversies. The VC’s loyalists , however, say he has only upset anti-social elements whose run has come to an end with these reforms.

Infrastructure
To give him his due, Dr Prabhudev did attempt to streamline the running of the university hostel, but when he tried to clear out some occupants who had refused to give up the hostel rooms for years, there was trouble. As a result, allegations of crowding, and poor quality food and infrastructure continue to dog the hostel even today. When Prof. Krishnan was registrar he tried to rope in the BDA to build a new hostel, but since his removal the project has been put in cold storage. A committee headed by syndicate member, Jagadish Prasad recommended urgent repairs on various hostel buildings in January, but differences of opinion between the syndicate and the VC have put its report on the backburner. Now the university claims it is waiting for a Rs 10 crore assistance from the state government to upgrade its hostel facilities.

Faculty
Over the last three-and- a-half years, the university teaching and non-teaching staff have been split into two distinct groups — one that supports the VC and another which does not. Two months ago, the university non-teaching staff went on a four day strike demanding immediate recall of Dr Prabhudev. Faculty association chairman, Dr. Honna Siddaiah, is currently on a fast unto death against the VC, in a clear example of the strong emotions he seems to evoke in people.

Poor facilities
In the absence of proper facilities, the four year B.S. course is conducted in a guest hostel. And although Dr.Prabhudev had proposed joining hands with elite institutes like IISc and IIM-B for research, this has not yet seen the light of day.