I took to writing, sarcasm and subtle humour as my two gears, lambasting mis-governance and bad-governance! In my line of fire were any and every leader, criminals, lazy and corrupt, regardless of their political colours. I succeeded in distancing from every party and leader of any worth and branded myself as ‘Intrépide voix,’ of fearless voice. I am always visibly followed by a few, and on the sly by many.
The preamble over, I posted two messages yesterday, the kind of ‘bold on a blackboard type.’ The first was lambasting the government for conferment as the ‘Institution of Excellence,’ for six Institutes, which rightfully included IITs and IIMs, but also added Mukesh Ambani’s Jio University. Jio University is in womb and is not even born yet. This addition was a cruel joke on the many universities, colleges, academia and students, who struggle to produce talents extraordinaire, under great financial strain and stress. There was little reaction over press, save a small insignificant allotment of space, fearing reprisals from the alternative government of Ambani’s, who could retaliate withholding ads or remove the editor at ease.
I then posted a second one, again the bold and the blackboard type, stating as follows: ‘Thank you Jio University, an Institution of Excellence’ in offering a PhD to me on my work Quantum Mythomania.’
Those few who were retired and had little to do like me, flipped the dictionaries, which read: Mythomania – an abnormal or pathological tendency to exaggerate or tell lies. But it also had a fallout, many complimenting and congratulating me, which left me a bit distressed. I had to clarify, while skilfully steering my friends from feeling deceived. No PhD at all! Not from a University, which has not even commenced yet, excellence or otherwise!
Thus this note of clarification! As a country, we may be belittling education and those who toil hard, students and teachers alike. My more than thirty years of being at the helm of various institutions, from schools to colleges, churned my belly, when I read about the ‘excellence’ of university yet born. Probably the leaders were awed by the mere physical infrastructure, which I am sure could be standing out, if not outstanding, going by Ambani’s residence ‘Antilla’ at Mumbai.
I must thank Mukesh Ambani for his efforts in establishing a university, joining the bandwagon of Birlas, Tatas, Jindal, Bajaj and closer to home, Neotia. This post is not a criticism in industrialists turning their attention to academic institutions, but is against the undue appeasement of people with deep pockets, as the elections draw closer.
Many a great leader had scaled their heights reading under lampposts. Someone should visit Nobel Laureate Sir CV Raman’s frugal lodge at Prem Chand Boral Street that would vindicate my heartburn! Sorry my friends to have misled you with a fake PhD offer, though many, who flaunt could have never been to a college, ever!
My faith in God is fortified. Jai Hind!
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide voix
