Punjabi Dept teachers show resentment

CHANDIGARH: Teachers of the Department of Punjabi, Panjab University (PU), showed resentment over a Syndicate agenda item of proposal of giving honorary professorship to Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh. The Syndicate, a governing body of the PU, is meeting on December 10.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 7

Teachers of the Department of Punjabi, Panjab University (PU), showed resentment over a Syndicate agenda item of proposal of giving honorary professorship to Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh.

The Syndicate, a governing body of the PU, is meeting on December 10.

Dr Deepak is a former Dean College Development Council, PU, former Dean of Faculty of Languages, former secretary general of Punjab Arts Council and former PU Senator too. A letter of faculty members of the Department of Punjabi to Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover stated, “We have come to know that Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh is being designated as honorary professor by the PU at the age of 77 without following any norms and rules. At no stage, any committee was constituted to assess his academic merit. Moreover, the School of Punjabi Studies is not considered to get its opinion on the matter. It is pertinent to mention here that he had completed his PhD in 18 years. And the same thesis is published in the form of book. Except that Dr Deepak has no notable academic merit in the form of research papers, seminars papers or books etc.”

The faculty added, “Whereas in the similar case of Prof Ashok Utreja, a committee of six professors duly constituted by the Vice-Chancellor has assessed his academic merit and recommended his case. Moreover, faculty of the Dental Institute and its chairperson, including Dean of the faculty concerned, has recommended his name for honorary professorship. But in case of Dr Deepak, no norms were followed, except his request letter. The most academic/administrative positions acquired by Dr Deepak, mentioned in his application, were due to long tenure of his senatorship.”

Prof Sukhdev Singh, Department of Punjabi, said, “Honorary professorship is a big award. If such a person gets this title, genuine researchers will be discouraged. The whole faculty has been protesting.”

Prof Nahar Singh said, “It would be an insult to Punjabi academics if Dr Deepak is granted honorary professorship. As the Syndicate elections are near, bargaining is going on. The Vice-Chancellor should resist it.”