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AMUTA Forced to Go on War Path: A Report 1. “Happy families are all alike, all unhappy families are unhappy in their own way”
2. “…but you can’t make fool [of ] everybody all the time”
Through the alumni networks I have constantly been apprising all [including the AMUTA and the VC] that the grievances of different sections of the university are mounting and needful is required to be done sooner rather than later. Somehow, these forewarnings remained un-attended and the inevitable happened. On 22 October 2008, the General Body Meeting (GBM) forced the AMU Teachers’ Association (AMUTA) to sit in dharna from 1st Nov’8, and a token strike on 4th Nov’08, which may extend to indefinite strike, if the administration failed to:
(a) Have Screening Committee rather than selection committee for placement of the Lecturers in Senior Scale, and
(b) Hold General Selection Committees immediately.
Following is the summary of the GBM, with the rider that not all the observations narrated here are necessarily mine.
Ever since Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis has assumed office of the VC, AMU, he is either engaged in managing a crisis or an event [The VC being called as Crisis/Event Manager]. During Sept-Dec’07 it was crisis. Then some “normal days” [including exams etc which create some fear/risk for the administration which the VC escapes by going on frequent leaves [letting the officiating ones enjoy the office ephemerally] or is busy in constituting innumerable committees [not to initiate its work or submit reports or the reports being kept un-implemented] or then the Alumni Meet, Convocation, minority Meet and a pre-matured centenary celebrations of AMU from 2010 and …As if Selection Committees are no component of much talked “academic rejuvenation”. Not only this, allegations of financial scandals, extravagant renovation/furnishing of the VC Lodge amidst various other discomfitures to the employees like exorbitant hike in license fee of the residential quarters and an attempt to replace the process of screening with selection committee for placement of lecturers in senior scale. Not to say of protection to illegally recruited/promoted teachers, regressive and exploitative arrangement of overworked, underpaid Guest Faculty and ….
All these ‘megalomaniac’ agendas are seen [by the teachers] to be a tactics to put the most genuine needs of the teachers in ‘malafide’ abeyance. The patience of the teachers had started running away, meanwhile the office bearers of the AMUTA and a section of the representatives of teachers in the Executive Council (EC) failed to get the grievances redressed leading not only to the erosion of their own credibility but also to unmanageable unpopularity of the VC. And in this way their alleged sycophancy has turned out to be a notorious disservice to the VC himself. [Unfortunately, rumours are circulating fast and furious that within a year or so the VC will secure a higher assignment to leave AMU hanging in balance, further adding to the chaos and restlessness. Notwithstanding its factuality, the rumour is certainly adding to the unpopularity of the VC. I, therefore, make an earnest appeal to the honourable VC to destroy these rumours as soon and as swiftly as possible]
It was, said Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, in his Asbab-e-Baghawat-Hind, the communication gap and un-attended/un-redressed grievances that led to the upsurge of 1857. We must learn lesson from history.
AMUTA's office bearers looked visibly reluctant to fight the issues, 'they wished that any proposal of agitation should come from somebody else rather than from their side" . This was clearly pointed out by Mr Mohibbul Haq and others.
Interpreting the words and body languages of the speakers/respondents in the GBM, people could identify as to how many of their representatives are conniving with the establishment at the altar of the genuine collective interest of the teaching community. Will the teacher-leaders and the administration learn a lesson or two? Or will the proposed agitation go down the drain with some under-hand dealings between the perfidious-leaders and the administration which is, historically speaking, rich in distributing patronage to the “traitors”? This is to be watched. The outcome will decide the future of AMU in the days to come.
Hope, the honourable VC is listening carefully and will respond positively. And I also do hope that our wise honourable VC is not misunderstanding me. I repeat it once again, “A stitch in time saves nine”
Regards,
Mohammad Sajjad,
Lecturer,
Centre of Advanced Study in History,
AMU, Aligarh
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