As the unrest in the once peaceful Sindh University (SU) in Jamshoro continues, the parents, teachers, educators and Sindhi intelligentsia have expressed utter displeasure and despondency about the situation.
Previously, the students were demanding the resignation of the incumbent Vice Chancellor and slamming his anti-merit policy. But now in the wake of the brutal murder of Prof Bashir Ahmad Channer who was killed right under the nose of law enforcement agencies in broad daylight on Monday by two unknown pillion riders, an immediate resignation of the Vice Chancellor has emerged as one of the demands of the teachers community also.
Indeed, unrest and violence on the campus reflect the complete moral and intellectual failure of the entire varsity administration. However, the situation calls for immediate reflection and action so that the tension may be diffused and brewing clashes may be averted at the earliest.
In this scenario, the varsity administration must think outside the box and outside their luxurious offices. As much as possible, the university administration must try to make the campus experiences fruitful for the students and not painful.
In this regard, I vividly remember the words of one of my mentors, former Vice Chancellor of my alma mater Mehran University, Dr S M Qureshi who used to say that “the most effective educators and varsity administrators bring their entire selves to the job.
They celebrate student successes, and show compassion for students, among others. It is only character, contribution and compassion which can bring and maintain enviable environ on the campus and nothing else.” The SU administration must reflect on these golden words and bring normalcy back to the campus.
HASHIM ABRO
Islamabad
