Arrogance has to go

This refers to the edit page article KU needs change, more than ever (THT, Dec. 17). Kathmandu University (KU) was established with the vision of providing Nepali students with a disciplined academic institution. Scheduled and fair examinations, hiring competent faculties and staff and eliminating nepotism, favouritism and corruption were the main things that led to the founding of KU.

Almost two decades on, however, KU is mired in controversy, which is mostly to be attributed to the evils fostered by its current VC Prof. Suresh Raj Sharma. The weakest aspect of his administration lies not only in his promotion of the practice of nepotism but also in his penchant for coming down heavily on dissenters. Added to it is the adoption of highly undesirable methods to suppress agitating teachers.

The VC and his cronies claim that unions lead to politicisation of the university. This cannot be refuted. But at KU, we need teachers’ union to bring an end to the VC’s dictatorship. For instance, Sharma generally selects teachers’ representative in the “Executive Council” from amongst his relatives and sycophants. If it is mandatory to have a teachers’ representative in the “Executive Council”, why not allow this selection to be made through consultations with the teachers. To serve that cause, the importance of a non-political professional body like KUPA is beyond dispute.

S B Shrestha,

former Asst. Professor,

Mechanical Engineering, KU