Autonomy of Universities and

AUTONOMY OF UNIVERSITIES AND POLITICAL INTERFERENCE

Vice-Chancellor, Madras University

In ancient times, the education imparted in institutions of higher learning was generally confined to Brahmins in the beginning and included Kshatriyas and Vysyas in the later period. But when the British came to power, it was thrown open to all sections of the society. With the support of some educated Indians, Macaulay, the then Law Member of the Government of India, succeeded in his attempts to introduce a modern type of education in India. The famous despatch of Sir Charles Wood to the Court of Directors of the East India Company in 1854 was “The Magna Charta of English education in India.” Since then, English education has come to stay in India. In the post-Independence era with the democratic forces on the ascendent, there has been an increased demand for the establishment of more universities and centres of higher learning while at the same time, the expansion of primary education has been equally emphasised. The Government has been forced to focus its attention on the need for encouragement of scientific and technological education and for stimulating research in the country. We have now a large number of such institutions throughout the country. Apart from these institutions, many new universities have been established and old universities have been split up.

The Vital Problem

Rapid increase in the number of the universities in our count has by its nature created many problems. The question of autonomy of the universities has been raised frequently. But, more often than not, when one speaks of the autonomy of the universities, the expression is either misunderstood or misjudged.

Autonomy of the universities is a question of vital importance. That this is essential in the interest of academic progress has accepted by all great educationists of experience. Converting University into a mere office or department of the State would be a great mistake, as any loss of dignity or independence in the University involves also a loss of dignity of the highest kind of efficiency.

Universities are asylums and rallying points of independent thought, the home of the right thinking few against the ignorant many. They preserve the memory of hard fought fights for truth. In a world where tolerance and forbearance are becoming rare virtues and when freedom of thought is seriously assailed from many directions, the universities must be the haven of refuge for all devotees of truth who praise it above the ephemeral attractions of temporal gain.

University autonomy does not mean a freedom without any checks and balances. What is meant is the freedom to work with a sense of responsibility to society, to the state, and to the world at large, a freedom that should generate a sense of discipline and duty in those associated with the university. And I concede that even in regard to academic freedom, there are limits which have to be recognised. But I do feel that the general trend at present is to assume that the universities are more or less incompetent to perform their task and so to try to direct them in many insidious ways to such activities as seem desirable to particular persons, to departments of the Government or to particular ministries. To be frank, this attitude has been very prominent and felt keenly by the universities since the attainment of independence by our country. Even if the intentions are good, it would be well if, in academic matters, the position of the University and particularly of the Vice-Chancellor is better appreciated by those in political authority before they send directives or near-directives to the universities.

Administration, policies and political chiefs are changeable. That is why universities should not tie themselves in their academic pursuits to the requirements of the State. If they do they will find themselves in great difficulties in following a uniform policy. A University cannot and should not play the role of a woodworth chain stores which exhibits for sale cheap and finished articles suited to the needs and capacities of its variegated customers.

Undesirable Interference

Instances of active interference by the governments of the states in the affairs of the universities are not lacking in number. In recent years universities have been subjected to directives from the Government even in the manner of revising the standards of examinations and therefore the results of such examinations on the ground that there has been a voluble criticism at the number of failures. If the Government can thus run a coach and pair through such undesirable orders and directives, where is the safeguard for a University or even a semblance of University autonomy.

If University education is not to be a plaything of political forces, autonomy of the universities must be held most sacred and safeguarded against all such attacks. In the words of Cardinal Newman, “A University is a seat of wisdom, a light of the world, a minister of the faith, an alma mater of the rising generation.” We must preserve its sanctity with the utmost care and devotion.