Chandan Sharma

Delhi University has formed an expert committee to look into the careless handling of the radioactive material Cobalt-60. The committee will probe that how the radioactive substance reached to the local scrap dealer. If believe on the university sources, about 20 truck scrap were sold in the last week of February 2010, which ultimately created killer radioactive exposure to the scrap dealer and its workers.

But the million dollar question is that whether the DU, Vice Chancellor Deepak Pental has already taken moral responsibility of the incident, itself is the competent authority to look into such a serious issue. The biggest Central University of the country, that could not even handle the unused radioactive substance carefully, is ready to probe firstever incident of such kind related to the university that led the death of one person and injured some others seriously. If believe on the Delhi University teachers, more scrap of radioactive substance are also there in the university which need to be probed.

Experts say that Atomic Energy Regulatory Body (AERB) is the only authority in the country which has mandate to probe such kind of incidents. Moreover, he has expertise into incidents related to radio-activities. So, the probe should be referred to the AERB in this regard. It will look into lapses into safety measures and other aspects of the incident. It is notable that Delhi University may have to pay heavy penalty for such kind of safety lapse, if it is proved.

But only glitch is that any outer agency needs approval of Visitor of the university to initiate such kind of probe. The President of India is the Visitor of Delhi University. And, in this case Visitor should order a free and fair enquiry in this regard. Institution of an enquiry by Delhi University itself is like Ham hee chor aur ham hee kotwal (We are the culprit and we are the judges too). Incidents like these needs a reliable and free enquiry and not just eyewash because it is not just a matter or to find out fault and culprit but also a matter of life and death of many common people, not just scrap dealers and workers but also teachers, students, researchers too.

By Santosh C. Panda
(A letter to Vice-Chancellor, Delhi University on Semester System)

Dear Professor Pental,
I am writing this note after hearing you in the meeting in Economics Department. I must confess at the outset that I was disappointed with your response to the queries put by teachers. I was expecting that you will give a road map of how to overcome the difficulties that we are going to face if we go for semester system. Instead, you kept on citing examples of European Universities who have successfully implemented semester system. To counter this, one could give examples of many British Universities which do not follow semester system and still achieve academic excellence. This includes Oxford, Cambridge and London School of Economics. So, it is fallacious to argue that excellence can only be attained if we adopt the semester system. The moot question is which one suit us better given the bottlenecks we have in our system. Just citing examples of European Universities doesn’t solve our problems. It is impossible to convince people by saying that we should adopt semester system since Europe does it because the structure and functioning of European universities is so much different from University of Delhi. None of the European Universities are like Delhi University having 83 affiliated colleges with an archaic system of centralised paper setting and evaluation handled by a grossly inefficient examination branch! You cited the recommendation of the Knowledge commission. Knowledge commission members have no knowledge about the complicated structure of Delhi University. Examples of IITs, NITs having semester system doesn’t help us since they are just comparable to one College of Delhi University. However, inspired by them, you seem to be determined to push the semester system at the undergraduate level in a few months! That makes all concerned teachers worried. Instead of addressing the systemic problems and correcting those to make a semester system work, you seem to be only interested in introducing the system somehow. We are scared to think that this may lead to chaos and probably you may not be there to redress it!
I have put in 26 years now in Delhi University and have been closely associated with exam process for Undergraduate programme for as many years. In order to make you aware of the lengthy process involved in our paper setting, let me narrate to you the process involving finalization of question papers for B.A. programme and B.A. Honours in Economics. For B.A. programme, a faculty member from DSE chairs the paper setting board and the board is asked to set between 30 to 40 question papers in one paper!

Always there is shortage of paper setters and finalizing such a large number of
question papers require a minimum of 5 meetings of 3-4 hours each! Since there are three papers in Economics in B.A. programme, old B.A. Pass course and B.Com, there are practically nine boards operating at the same time and the process takes at least a month and a half. I have done this work for nearly twelve years. With semester, since you haven’t visualized any change in the paper setting process, it has to be done twice in a year! Come to B.A. Hons now. The Head has to practically run after people to make them agree to set a paper. Since the paper setter is asked to set 3 question papers and is asked to be the head examiner, rarely teachers are willing. There is no mechanism in
place to distribute this load uniformly among all teachers. So, you can’t penalize anyone for not accepting this responsibility. The moderation board, which largely consists of faculty from DSE, meets at least 4/5 times spending about 20 hours to finalize question papers! Since there are multiple question papers in one paper, balancing act has to be done so that each question paper is equal in rigour. All this is time consuming and we have been doing it sincerely year after year. To do it twice over in a year, is scary!
Remember that this is what a faculty member in Economics Department does for the undergraduate paper setting in addition to his/her own responsibility in M.A. If semester system is to be introduced, you must change this paper setting procedure because
this lengthy process is untenable.

Now let us look at grading. The exam branch takes at least one week to assign the fictitious roll numbers. Then the bundles come to the central valuation centre. It has been really difficult to find teachers to do evaluation work. In spite of all your efforts last year, we could get only 4 examiners in one specific paper and the head examiner had to grade 500 scripts. Compulsory grading work for all teachers hasn’t been enforced. We are able to manage somehow because there is a long summer break which works as a buffer. Exam branch takes nearly a month or more for tabulation. In spite of all efforts last year, many results came out only after 16 July, nearly two months after the exam was over. In the semester system, the load is going to be heavier since minor courses will be taken along with B.A. Programme courses and hence we cannot finalize honours results without finalizing B.A. Programme results. To say that the same system can deliver the result in two weeks time is only day dreaming. There is a problem there and you cannot wish it away. Before introducing the semester system, changes need to be done here. The document on semester system on DU website suggests that fake roll number assignment and revaluation will be done away with. That will be a big mistake.

The idea of 3-4 examiners checking the same script is impractical and will be prone to mistakes and is no substitute for fictitious roll number system. On the one hand you don’t trust your teachers for internal assessment and these marks are moderated; on the other, you do away with fictitious roll number system! This has given DU evaluation system some credibility by maintaining anonymity of students and you plan to do away with this! This is an example of trashing some good practices in a hurry for making something work by hook or by crook.

Teachers raised their concern about the admission process taking too long. In order to make the semester system work, admission should be over within a week of opening of the term. But now admission process goes on till September. Students entering late are academically weaker and need more time to cope with course pressure. We are doing just the opposite by asking them to write the exam in November! Have you thought of ways to ensure that admission process is completed by July 20? There is no mention about this in the document; nor did you address this issue at all.

By introducing semester system in the present setting, the only change you are bringing about is to hold exams twice a year. The cost of doing it is enormous and seems infeasible. But semester system should not be introduced just to hold exams twice a year! The other benefits associated with introduction of semester system such as giving a choice to the student to choose electives within the major discipline are being overlooked. The design of the major is such that we will be forced to cut down the content being covered in Economics Honours now. This will dilute the content of Economics Honours programme and teachers are apprehensive that this will lower the value of Economics Honours degree from this University. Continuous assessment made by the teacher cannot be trusted by your system and you will appoint some committee to moderate the internal
assessment marks awarded by teachers. So, what is the major benefit of introducing semester system this way?

Semester system is beneficial only if it is implemented in a proper environment where admissions are completed on time, examinations are held and results declared on time, continuous evaluation done by teachers is trusted and students have the option of choosing large number of smaller courses within the discipline to expand their horizon of learning. None of these things seems to be happening. Therefore, what one is objecting to is the way the semester system is being bulldozed in a short span without modifying some of our current practices. Given the complex structure of this University and its enormous size, one is also not clear what exactly can be done. The first thing to try
out is to reform the examination process and show the teachers that the exam branch can actually deliver results.

That day I came to know that all college department councils have opposed semester system. It has been overlooked on the assumption that teachers always oppose change. That is not the story with Economics though. Not long ago, Economics department wanted to change the syllabus but the University resisted it – sat on it for two years! First, on the pretext of sending it for anonymous peer review and then not bringing it up in the AC in time! Every year, teachers of Economics meet at DSE to consider up gradation of reading list and where ever necessary, new readings replace the old. This way, we keep the syllabus up to date. That gives the cutting edge to our Honours programme.

Through years of sincere effort we have made it one of the best Economics Honours programme in the country and the Market recognizes it, so also our peers. It has been possible only through the work put in by teachers in colleges. So, it is not true that teachers are always opposed to change – not in Economics, at least. There are genuine concerns and difficulties about the semester system.

Without addressing these difficulties, if you push the semester system on the plea that AC has approved it, it is going to be counterproductive. So, I will urge you to reconsider introduction of semester system with such haste.

With regards,
Santosh C. Panda
Professor of Economics

(Prof. Santosh C. Panda is former Head of Economics Department at Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University and has been teaching Economics in DU for over 26 years.)

BY H D Deve Gowda
(former Prime Minister of India)

I am shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu.

One of the political stalwarts of post-independent India, Basu was a rare combination of charisma, character and selflessness. Committed to his ideology, yet pragmatic. A dreamer and a visionary yet a realist who understood the constraints of his politico-economic ideology but did not desist from experimenting with bold initiatives in governance without compromising either with principles or the interests of the poor, underprivileged, downtrodden, the minorities and the disadvantaged.

The land reforms he carried out in West Bengal as the state’s longest serving and most popular Chief Minister were nothing short of revolutionary, so were the steps he undertook to empower the Panchayati Raj institutions. The manner in which he handled the Naxalite problem as the state’s Home Minister continues to be worthy of emulation.

Above all, the clean Government he provided for such a long tenure would remain a role model in a country where corruption has become all pervasive.

Basu’s demise is a personal loss to me. He played a key role in my installation as the Prime Minister and his counsel and invaluable guidance enabled me to shoulder this onerous task.

I consider it an honour and privilege that such a far sighted and visionary leader had so much of faith in me.

It is our misfortune that we did not have such a great human being as the nation’s Prime Minister.

His passing away marks the end of an era in Indian politics. In his death, the nation has lost an able administrator, a farsighted leader, a pragmatic Marxist, unswerving in his commitment to both ideology and national interests.

Telangana has been a big political as well as psychological issue for over five decades for Union government and Andhra Pradesh Government as well as people of the state. As a part of Andhra Pradesh Telangana region constitutes of 10 districts of the state. These include Hyderabad, Adilabad, Mehboobnagar, Medak, Karimnagar, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, RangaReddy and Warangal districts. These cover about 40 percent land area of the whole state and about 41% (30.6 million) population of Andhra Pradesh.

Except Hyderabad all other districts of the region is known for extreme poverty, unemployment and naxal activities too. Krishna and Godavari are two major rivers of the region apart from several (about 10) small rivers. The literacy rate of the region is comparatively lower than the Andhra Pradesh and other Southern Indian states. Government data says that the literacy rate in the region is about 58% while the Andhra’s litracy rate is over 61% and other southern states have over 65% literacy rate.

Political aspects of Telangana movement:

The recent crisis of Telangana actually started in last week of November when Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) Chief and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh K Chandrashekhar Rao started fast-unto-death for the formation of Telangana state. After his agitation Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosiah met the Home Minister and Prime Minister on this issue and hold detailed discussions in this regard. On December 9, 2009, the Chief Minister met the Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in this regard. After several round of parleys at the top level the Home Minister P Chidambaram made an announcement before media that centre will initiate process of formation of separate Telangana state and requested the TRS Chief to end his fast.

This had created a festival like celebration in the Telangana region. But this has created a nuclear fission like reaction as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayavati demanded to creation of separate states like Bundelkhand and Poorvanchal and started sending letter to the Centre despite being a head of the state. Demand and agitation for Gorkhaland and other small states had also resurrected.

This has brought the union government in jeopardy. The government had to reconsider its decision for the formation of a separate state as spate of resignations started coming after the decision both from non-Telangana regions of Andhra Pradesh.

There are three regions in Andhra Pradesh Rayalseema, Coastal Andhra and Telangana. Even the several union ministers from Andhra Pradesh, especially Non-Telangana region had offered their resignations on the issue. Considering this the UPA government took another stand on the formation of Telangana state and said on 23rd December “the opinions of all the concerned forces will be taken into consideration”. This flip-flop of the union government had ignited the crisis and people, political parties and several other NGOs and agencies came on street on the issue.

Historical Perspective:

Actually the issue of Telangana has been emotional, psychological, economical issue for the people of Andhra Pradesh. Here it should be remembered that Andhra Pradesh was the first state which was formed in November 1956 on the basis of linguistic line after the report of State Re-organisation Commission (formed in 1953) and Gentleman agreement. But despite having the common language in the region the nine cities had different identity form rest of the Andhra Pradesh. It was known as Hyderabad state, ruled by Nizam. Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister, wanted to erase the imperialistic identity of the region.

The Gentleman Agreement says that Talngana can be formed if the state passes a resolution with two-third majority to form a separate state. There were complaints about the agreement and its implementation and step-brotherly treatment for the Telangana region for several years after the formation of the state. In 1969-70 major movement had taken place demanding a separate state for Telangana and a large number of students participated in the movement especially from Osmania University, one of the oldest institutions of the country. About 360 students were killed or died and over 3000 gone missing in the movement. This has become such an emotional issue that almost all political parties came into power by cashing the issue of formation of separate Telangana state. Even film star N T Ramarao came into power in just nine month of the formation of his Telgu Desham Party (TDP) and he became the Chief Minister of the state by riding on the issue of separate Telangana. Even recently Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party get a good number of seat by raising the issue of separate Telangana state. Almost all parties include formation of Telangana in their manifestos to come in the power.

Economical perspective:

Understanding economical perspective is quite interesting. It must be noted that there was not much objection from the various quarter when the union government announced its intention to form a separate Telangana state. But when the Union Home Secretary told media that Hyderabad would be capital of Telangana the whole political system boiled and agitated despite the fact that historically Hyderabad has been part of Telangana region.
Actually several economic issues and interests are affected by this decision. According to a study Hyderabad has been expanded from 2197 sq Km to 6852 sq kms over a period of time and cultivable land of several districts like Medak, Mahboobnagar, Rangareddy, Hyderabad and Nalgonda have been included in the process of urbanization. Hyderabad has maximum number of Special Economic zones (SEZs) in the country. Andhra has 73 SEZs out of 513 SEZs approved in the country. 66 SEZs out of 73 are situated in Hyderabad alone. This is enough to understand economic implications of the decision to make Hyderabad capital of the Telangana.

Take a lesson from the History:

It is true that administration and development is easy and better in small states. But it is not a panacea of poverty and underemployment. Jharkhand was formed on the same line saying that the state would develop very fast and provide employment to its own people as it is full of natural resources and minerals. But one decade of formation of the state could not change the situation very much. Several other states were formed on the same line but we do not see a major change in those states.
Actual problem lies in the administration and politics. If administration is better and elected representatives works for their areas the problem can be resolved to a great extent.