Sunaina Singh named new V-C of Nalanda University
Appointment after interim VC resigned from post
President Pranab Mukherjee has appointed Sunaina Singh as the vice-chancellor of Nalanda University (NU). She is expected to take up the new assignment soon.
The President, also the visitor of NU, signed the letter appointing Singh, at present vice-chancellor of the English and Foreign Language University (EFLU), Hyderabad, on Tuesday. Her name figured in the panel of three names submitted to the President. The panel was formed after shortlisting 133 applicants, six of whom were earlier called for interviews. They included former pro-VC of Patna University, Ranjit Verma.
The appointment was announced late on Wednesday night after interim NU vicechancellor Pankaj Mohan, who was in the media line of fire for allegedly trying to protect a student accused in a sexual harassment case, tendered his resignation and posted an open letter to students on Facebook. But before that, Mohan rusticated the accused, who was earlier suspended on Wednesday.
In his post, an upset Mohan wrote: “I express my sincere apology to the members of NU community for my inability to uphold their trust. I take moral responsibility for the problems in NU in the last three days. I have relinquished all administrative positions and also urged the chancellor to institute an inquiry into the period of my term as interim VC. If I am found guilty of any wilful error, I will quit the university.”
Singh, who hails from Rajasthan, is a professor of English and has held many key administrative positions, including chairperson of the department of English, Osmania University, and president of the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, a binational research organisation, from 2009 to 2011.
She is a member of the council of vice-chancellors of central universities, the national apex committee of the National Mission on Education, standing committee on women’s studies set up by the Union ministry of HRD and appeals committee of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
A nominee of the visitor (President) in the executive council of many central universities, she is a recipient of many awards, including Commonwealth academic staff scholarship award and post-doctoral faculty award from the Canadian foreign affairs ministry.
She joins at a time when NU is in turmoil for the first time since its inception. The alleged sexual harassment incident has done enough damage to the reputation of the university, set up in 2014 to recreate the glory of ancient seat of learning in Nalanda, which functioned from 413 AD to 1193 AD.