The following views are in response to the correspondence by D. K. Basa (Curr. Sci., 2001, 80, 1364). He is correct to infer that Indian science is not at all doing well. There are many reasons for the falling standard of science and technology: meagre allocation of funds, appointment of administrators/Vice-Chancellors (VCs), role of state governments and lastly the role of Chancellors. It is true that our contribution in the world of science is not adequate. The type of researches done in this country is not need-based and is mostly copied or duplicated, rather recirculated. We need to take a very strong view about the quality of researches. The above-mentioned letter also deals with the appointment of VCs and administrators of academic institutions. Appointment to these posts is often controversial. In the history of our university, since 1946 we have had twenty-nine VCs with twenty-two in the last three decades. VCs are appointed either from the police or administrative cadre. They may even be politicians (mostly defeated ones); very few of them are from the academic field. Such appointments of VCs (other than academicians) are not good, since the job of VCs has undergone a sea change. In olden days, the VCs used to have academic and financial freedom. Hence they had more time to devote to their campuses, to understand the problems of their students and faculty, to interact with the institutions of excellence at national and international levels, and to have more discussions with the University Grants Commission (UGC). Nowadays, the administrators/VCs are busy in the state capitals for more funds or to have good relations with the political bosses. It has been observed in many cases that the VCs plead before the political administration even for funds for salary, every month. Iff in a specific state the government and the Governor are from different political parties, then the matter is still worse.
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