This story is from November 17, 2019

Hyderabad: Crisis intensifies on split Maulana Azad National Urdu University campus

Days after a very public fallout between its chancellor and vice-chancellor, tension within India’s sole Urdu university – the Maulana Azad National Urdu University – is palpable. The staff is divided in two camps, but none are willing to openly speak about where their allegiances lie. Behind closed doors though, they not only disclose their ‘camp’ but also admit that the university is caught in a flux.
Hyderabad: Crisis intensifies on split Maulana Azad National Urdu University campus
Amid the tension, few students of Manuu share notes on campus on Saturday
HYDERABAD: Days after a very public fallout between its chancellor and vice-chancellor, tension within India’s sole Urdu university – the Maulana Azad National Urdu University – is palpable. The staff is divided in two camps, but none are willing to openly speak about where their allegiances lie. Behind closed doors though, they not only disclose their ‘camp’ but also admit that the university is caught in a flux.
Infighting, excessive interference by politicians, lack of academic discipline among faculty and fading popularity of the Urdu language are all contributing to the crisis.

“It isn’t like we do not have capable teachers, but most aren’t willing to push the envelope. They have become too comfortable with their well-paid central government jobs,” said a faculty member who has been serving at Manuu for over 10 years. He added: “The systems put in place during the V-C’s tenure, including biometrics for teachers, sharing of answer scripts with students and refusing to appoint anybody without the basic knowledge of Urdu, are very effective. Nay-sayers terming it dictatorial don’t realise that by opposing these regulations that are ultimately damaging Manuu.”
Those on the other side of the fence, of course, have a different view. “Every teacher on campus has been selected following a rigorous selection process. To then question their merit and drag the university into dirty politics, is very unbecoming of someone leading the institution,” said a member of the teacher’s association appealing to the Centre to be more “careful” while appointing VCs and Chancellors. “Ours is a very young university, it needs people who are academically accomplished,” the member added.
Dearth of teachers, diminishing number of Urdu medium schools and poor employment among Urdu-educated candidates are other factors that need attention.
“Urdu-medium in OU – and other institutes of higher education in India -- was discontinued soon after Independence. Manuu came up over 50 years after this. Hence, several generations in between had no scope for studying in the language. How do you then expect to find scholars who are well-versed to take up teaching jobs in Urdu?” said a city-based historian. He also highlighted how limited job opportunities for Urdu-educated candidates is an important reason pushing students towards English-medium, wherever possible.

“At Manuu only 500 of the 4,000-odd students are from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh because there are more options here. A significant chunk comes from remote parts of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal where the scope is limited,” says a professor from the university.
The observations of Prof Wahajuddin Alvi, (retd) from the Urdu department of New Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia are much the same. “The shortage of teachers is indeed a concern. Also, often times while teaching the Sciences, usage of the English language is unavoidable. A lot of work is happening at Jamia to develop our own material. Universities of Manuu’s stature too need to do the same to increase the scope of Urdu education,” he said.
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