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Don’t let dreams of innocent students die, don’t letdown the democracy, Mr Chief Minister

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open letter to virbhadra singh

open letter to virbhadra singh

Dear Sir,

Thursday, September 19 was not as pleasant as the weather of Himachal these days, calm and cool. The heart-rending pictures of that day when democracy was being throttled and trampled, in my alma mater-the highest centre of learning in the state-Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), was quite painful.

Yes sir, not only me, but many of the alumnae of this institution have felt so. Sir, even the most sacred place, the HPU library was not spared. The walls still must be red with the blood splatter. The innocent students were just fighting for their legitimate right, equal and inexpensive education- guaranteed to them in the Indian constitution.

A day before this brutal murder of democracy, an incident, where the students, who wanted a clarification on the indiscriminate fee hike, stopping vice-chancellor’s vehicle (and as this official claims of assault on him) prompted the police and district administration to impose section 144 on the university campus- though the alleged assault on the top official of the university could not be substantiated in any way, as it was reported.

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Sir, no terrorists live in my alma-mater, they are only students, and thus have every right to ask questions, on what they seem could jeopardize their careers.

Many argue that the protest is not a way to put forward your point of view, but, sir it was unfortunate that when the students pursued the dialogue, they were ruthlessly told to “leave the university if you can’t pay the fees.” Was it not an insensitive answer on the part of an official, who was entrusted with a responsibility of safeguarding the rights of the students?

They (university authorities) claim that the institution’s development was marred by the fund crunch. Oh please! Don’t give such reasons. Sir, I will quote you from your Independence Day speech that, “`3,836 crore was being spent on education sector during the current financial year.”

If it is so, then why the HPU- the only university in the state imparting multidisciplinary education- is so badly starved of the funds. Sir, allocating `200 crore for the university, which so far, was providing opportunity to the poor for equal education and better future, is definitely not that much difficult.

hpu-fee

They justify this fee hike, in some cases more than 2000%, by arguing that the fee structure in neighbouring universities was higher. But, just once, compare the quality and standards of our university with those institutions- unfortunately my alma mater doesn’t have even 1% of the facilities available in those institutions- and nobody is ready to own the responsibility for this mess.

Then, why a student should be forced to pay such a massive fee when a “welfare state”, as defined in the constitution, can’t provide facilities to the students? And please don’t try to create those facilities by extorting money from them.

Click To Read “Black day for HPU: Police brutally beats, humiliates students, over 300 arrested

And here they are being charged even if the mistake is on party the university authorities.

Sir, have you ever tried to find out how the HPU is functioning? Here, a NET/JRF qualified student runs pillar to post, pleading before the authorities in a hope that one day he will realize his dream of getting admitted to Ph D, but the people, who have backing their political masters and are not even into regular studies, deprive him or her of this opportunity.

Just ask the university registrar Mr Mohan Lal Jharta that why his department sociology is locked for the last three months and what is his prime responsibility? These are just examples and if I will try to elaborate the sorry state of affairs, it will take me another 5,000 words, but I have keep constraints on my words- though I have already exceeded them.

So let me come to the point, this vice-chancellor- multicolor bearded man, ADN Bajpai- I will not hesitate to liken him with Nero. Sir, this Nero is burning your beautiful Rome. How cleverly he depicts himself as helpless and the students as demons. And the police, those wild beasts in Khakhi, who wag their tails and lick the feet of powerful, are his guests. They prey on the innocent students in the night. How they mercilessly thrash the protesting girls in the midnight, is just an example.

And those university officials, who are less teachers and more diplomats, indulged in a drama of resignations, are those who do a cackling together with this modern Nero, when state machinery strike democratic rights of students..

So, sir, don’t let the Nero burn this Rome this time. Don’t let the dreams of those innocent students die. Not everyone will be able to pay such hefty fee. The data of poor population released by your government are enough to substantiate this fact and after all how much of the Himachal populace have luxury to shop in the malls?

Yours sincerely
Naresh K Thakur
Staff Correspondent Hindustan Times.

Campus Watch

Nauni Varsity Scholar Naincy Bags Scholarship to Pursue PhD in France

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Naincy Sagar uhf nauni scholar

Solan: Naincy Sagar, an alumna of Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni has bagged a fellowship for pursuing PhD from France. Nancy has reached France and will be pursuing PhD in Forest Genetics from the University of Orléans under INRAE fellowship. INRAE is France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment.

Naincy has completed her BSc Forestry from College of Horticulture and Forestry (COH&F), Neri in 2018 and MSc Forest Biology and Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources from UAS, Dharwad, under ICAR’s National Talent Scheme. Before leaving for France last week, Naincy was working as a Junior Research Fellow in a research project at COH&F, Neri.

She had applied for a PhD with a scholarship in Forest Genetics which was advertised by INRAE. Naincy was successful in the interview and was awarded a fellowship for three years for pursuing PhD at the University of Orléans. During the course of the PhD, she will receive a total scholarship of around Rs 70 lakh along with medical reimbursement. Naincy will be working on forest tree larch species in the Project titled ‘Vigour at what cost? ‘Trade-off’ of hybrid vigour in Larch-Phenological, morphological and physiological determinants of hybrid superiority in Larix X eurolepis’ with a team of 20 scientists of Joint Integrated Biology Research Unit having expertise in genetics, genomics and physiology for the enhancement of tree and forest diversity

Dr. Parvinder Kaushal, Vice-Chancellor of the university spoke to Naincy via web conferencing and congratulated her. Dr. Kaushal, who has also done his doctorate from France, shared some tips and suggestions. He asked Naincy to explore this opportunity to learn about new cultures along with doing research that could help to enhance and conserve forest wealth in the future.

Naincy expressed gratitude towards her father Satya Prakash Sagar (Retd. SDO BSNL) and mother Monika Sagar, who is working as SDO in BSNL for their continuous support for higher studies. She also thanked Vice-Chancellor Dr. Parvinder Kaushal, Dean Dr. Kamal Sharma and Dr. Dushyant Sharma, Project Investigator and all the university staff for their support and guidance. The university administration, Dean of COH&F Neri congratulated Naincy and wished her success.  

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Campus Watch

HP University Extends College Admission Date for 2021-22 Session Till Oct 25

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hpu college admissions 2021-22 dates

Shimla-Dates for admissions to undergraduate courses for the session 2021-22 in colleges affiliated to Himachal Pradesh University has been extended, which has come as a relief to not only those students who were seeking fresh enrollments in the first year but also to the students of the second and third year. 

The varsity informed that the decision was taken after considering requests received from various students regarding the same.  

Now, willing students can apply for enrollment in both government and private colleges till 5 PM, October 25, 2021.

This extension of date would benefit students who recently passed supplementary exams or those students of the second and third-year who had missed admission due to delay in declaration of their previous results.

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Campus Watch

UHF Nauni Extends Admission Dates for UG, PG, PhD Till Oct 18

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uhf nauni admissions 2021 dates

Solan– Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni, has extended the last date for applying to various Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctoral programmes in Horticulture, Forestry, Biotechnology, Agribusiness and Business Management. Applicants can submit their complete online application on the university’s admission portal till 18th October.

The normal seats of BSc (Hons) Horticulture, BSc (Hons) Forestry and B Tech Biotechnology will be filled on the basis of scorecard of ICAR-AIEEA (UG) 2021.

Admissions to MSc, MBA (Agribusiness) and PhD (for normal and self-financing seats) will also be conducted on the scorecard of ICAR AIEEA (PG) and AICE-JRF/SRF respectively. Students who have appeared in the ICAR-AIEEA 2021 for UG and PG, or AICE-JRF/SRF examination and are interested in seeking admission, such students must fill the university online application form before 18th October. Undergraduate aspirants who have not appeared in the ICAR test can however apply for the self-financing seats for B Sc and B Tech Biotechnology programmes run by the university by filling the online application on the university website.

The university has also advised the registered candidates to submit complete online application forms along with online payment acknowledgement slip before the due date. The schedule for online counselling will be announced by the University on the website after the declaration of the ICAR examination result. Application forms other than online mode will not be accepted.

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