- Malpractices at 135 years old Punjab University
Alfred Woolmer must be turning in his grave in the ‘gora’ cemetery located on Lahore’s Jail Road. A leading Sanskrit scholar, he was also the vice–chancellor from 1928-36 of the Punjab University, the oldest public university of Pakistan, and only the fourth established in the sub-continent by our education-wise, at least, well-meaning colonial rulers. Since 1882, the once exclusive, sometimes snobbish, institution and its associated colleges have spawned thousands of illustrious personalities in all fields of human endeavour, including two Nobel Laureates, but unlike good vintage, it has unfortunately not aged well. On Thursday, it’s long serving former vice-chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran (January 2008-December 2016), and a few colleagues were arrested by the anti-corruption sentinel, National Accountability Bureau, and later placed in physical remand on charges ranging from 550 illegal appointments , nepotism and illegalities in procurement, to awarding scholarships to personally fancied (read undeserving) students.
Under such circumstances, it is unsurprising that Punjab University is usually in the media glare for the wrong reasons these days, not for some high academic achievement, but for gross mismanagement, political interference, repeated brawls between student groups, worryingly along ethnic and sectarian lines, occupation of hostels by armed ‘outsiders’, problems of affiliation of private colleges, and repressive dominance of student wing of a religious political party that stifles ease of association, freedom of speech and creativity in the co-ed institution and imposes harsh moral codes. The Supreme Court has recently been compelled to intercede frequently in university affairs, as in suspending the surrender of prime university land reportedly for a grid station or a religious seminary. Executive and administrative corruption and mismanagement, commercialisation of education, unbounded human avarice, and flagrant favouritism, when merit alone should matter, have debased this pivotal academic institution, formerly one of all-round excellence.
A summons to the NAB office is a hazardous undertaking these days as it can end in an unexpected arrest and indefinite incarceration. That socially highly respected professional teachers, who along with parents, mould, groom and inspire the personalities, habits and very future of their wards, should be involved in alleged despicable acts of corruption or illegality is indeed a painful reflection on the pitiable state of our society.
