An Interview with Asst. Prof. D.N. Mahato
Dip Narayan Mahato is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics, Kathmandu University, Nepal. Presently, he is on study leave, working for his PhD in Physics with his major research in Biomedical Nanotechnology at State University of New York (SUNY), University at Albany, USA. He has served Kathmandu University for more than nine years in different capacities. He was a very dedicated, hard working and honest faculty in Kathmandu University. Recently the blog management team had a chance to interview him, here are the excerpts:
BMT: Good Morning Sir.
Mr. Mahato: Good morning, how are you doing today?
BMT: Fine, thank you sir. Good to have an opportunity to interview you today. Could you please let me know your past association with KU, and in what capacity?
Mr. Mahato: I joined KU in February 1995 as an instructor in the Department of Physics when I was waiting for the result of my M.Sc. second year. I was promoted to temporary Lecturer after I submitted the transcript of my Master's Degree. I got the permanent Lecturer position in January 1998. It was said that one needed at least one additional degree, either M. Phil. or PhD, to get one's promotion to Assistant Professor. I completed M.Phil. from KU in service and got promoted to Assistant Professor in 2001. Now I am on study leave and working for my PhD at State University of New York (SUNY), University at Albany, USA.
BMT: Having worked for this many years, what is your impression about this institution?
Mr. Mahato: I would say, it's basically a kind of privately administered public institution that has maintained a good academic standard. However, to see this institution like a real university, it needs a lot of changes in the education and administration systems, and also in the programs of graduate and undergraduate study. Regarding the question of whether or not KU is appropriate for somebody to work, not to speak of only my impression, even every single faculty who has worked in KU right from its early childhood has never thought of abandoning such an academically healthy and progressive institution.
BMT: You have worked very honestly for KU for so many years; did you have any difficulty in getting study leave?
Mr. Mahato: I did not have any difficulty in getting Unpaid Study Leave. However, requesting a Paid Study Leave, I had talked personally to Dr. Pushpa Raj Adhikary for more than half an hour, argued with him in as many ways as I could, but did not get any green signal. Then I talked to Dr. Sitaram Adhikary for at least half an hour in his office and got the reply that they had changed the rule not to give Paid Study Leave, but he added that he could consider me as special case because of my continuous service in KU for more than nine years. I tried to strengthen my chance by talking to Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma for more than an hour in Manbhavan's Management College, got some positive expectation but eventually I received the letter of Unpaid Study Leave. While talking to him, I expressed a disparity towards KU that such a well-built institution is heading towards Nepotism Death in future, but he replied, "Do not worry, KU will have a good future because I have not appointed any bad personality in KU". I still remember this special sentence and tend to shower pity at the present situation.
BMT: But they say the deserving candidates get priorities when hiring, promoting and while granting leave. What makes one eligible? Who else could be more eligible than you are?
Mr. Mahato: That was true during the early 90's when KU was just an infant. Later on, they changed the criteria and gradually the best eligibility requirement for hiring, promoting and granting leave has publicly been seen to be the member of their family, one way or the other. Honestly speaking, I do not see any reason for not granting me the paid leave, except I did not come of as their family member.
BMT: So there are some people in KU who are privileged? Is that right?
Mr. Mahato: Absolutely. If the same question goes to Dr. Sharma or Dr. Adhikary, I am sure they will ethically answer the same as I did.
BMT: Did KU send you to US for PhD? Or does KU have any role in sending you to US?
Mr. Mahato: I am in USA by my own efforts, but KU has granted me Study Leave, though it's unpaid. So, the answer is "No" for sure, but "Yes", of course, on the other hand. KU compelled me disrespectfully to get my PhD. This is the great role of KU in sending me to USA. Though I am still happy, I would have been little more happier if KU had not been disrespectful to me. More important, I am feeling a kind of tired of hearing the same type of ridiculous things over and over again. Somebody had mentioned in the past that Dr. Ghanshyam Bhatt was sent to Italy by KU, which was absolutely wrong in the sense that he got that luck by his own efforts.
BMT: KU authority was unwilling to cooperate when KUPA was being formed. What could be the reason behind that?
Mr. Mahato: The reason is quite simple and obvious. They knew that KUPA was going to bring about a historic change in KU which they never liked.
BMT: There is a virtual organization in KU called No-KUPA, isn't that offensive?
Mr. Mahato: KUPA was born to fight against what is now No-KUPA. The answer is clear.
BMT: Recently this blog has learnt that No-KUPA members are being promoted, would that be a good motivation to academic honesty?
Mr. Mahato: Never, and in deed, how could that be? To be honest, this is also a kind of nepotism that seems to persist, one after another, even after such a historic change in KU. But all I can say is: "Every bad attempt has to have an unpleasant return", this is the law of nature.
BMT: There is no doubt that Dr. Sharma was solely responsible for the establishment of KU. With the allegation from all sides, do you think he is still capable of leading this institution?
Mr. Mahato: Not at all! He gave birth to KU to make a good academic institution in the country where Nepalese people, either serving the institution or being served in the institution, could get well-benefited in a democratic pattern. But the circumstances have changed a lot, and he should have his own vision to see that KU needs a new leadership to have it gain what it was meant for. I cannot blame him, but I can hope, he might be thinking of getting a respectful escape from KU so that he could hold the position of a good character in the history of KU. A creator should not see the creation to be declining!
BMT: Dr. Sharma doesn't listen to his co-workers. He dictates them, so the principled academicians hesitate to work under him and leave the job sooner or later. Only yes men stay intact with him. Do you disagree with it?
Mr. Mahato: I completely agree. In principle, nobody is perfect in all respects. One has to trust in others, too. Darkness never realizes that it is dark unless it gets light to be bright. And regarding the YES-MEN, they should never forget that dignity is also a kind of holy thing in life.
BMT: How do you see the charges of Nepotism against Dr. Sharma and Adhikary?
Mr. Mahato: If Dr. Sharma and Adhikary are really honest, they should pay the appropriate charges of nepotism that they have spread in KU by themselves.
BMT: Don't you think the administration controls the dean's offices by assigning voiceless hanumans in dean's offices?
Mr. Mahato: Definitely I do. And Saraswati Prasad Rimal is the best example. I have been the grader of exam papers in KU for a long time when he used to control the I. Sc. exam system as a whole. Once upon a time, when I asked somebody why he had been assigned for that job even though he was not capable of, the answer was that KU was giving him simply the respect for an old man. Now he has been assigned to control the Dean's office, which, possibly, he had never dreamed of, or more accurately, he was never capable of.
BMT: Many former and current academic staffs, like you, are studying internationally. This advantage could be a very huge resource for KU. In what way, is KU taking advantage from you?
Mr. Mahato: KU is an academic institution, and an academic institution can be strong only if the professionals are really strong. Having gained the training and knowledge of many things of international standard, those associated with KU could come up with new visions to help KU get built up to the top of the ladder where it could be compared with some other good international institutions.
BMT: What should KUPA do in order to make KU an academic institution where everyone has values, thoughts and a better place for everyone that contributes the nation?
Mr. Mahato: First of all, KUPA should never forget that good actions never go unrewarded and that evil deeds never go unpunished. This will make KUPA function well to maintain a healthy, fair and transparent atmosphere in KU.
BMT: Any message to blog readers?
Mr. Mahato: Think big, never get disappointed while struggling, and always try to become good. Success often comes after setbacks.
BMT: Thank you very much sir.
Mr. Mahato: You are most welcome. And thank you for inviting me for this interview. I wish BMT every success in carrying out its future role to establish a pleasant atmosphere in KU for everybody to breathe in.
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