Disappearance of autonomy in Tribhuvan University and appearance of malfeasance

Autonomy, the freedom to govern oneself, is an indispensable cornerstone of higher education institutions worldwide. Without autonomy, a university cannot maintain its valuable responsibility and dignity of promoting education and research. In other words, without independence, universities cannot make correct decisions regarding curriculum design, faculty recruitment, academic policies, or examination procedures for their students. The universities have to be pressureproof from any kind of pressure--President, Prime Ministers, Ministers, Cabinet, Students or Donors, etc. Only by embracing and safeguarding autonomy can universities continue to serve as beacons of learning, enlightenment, and progress in an everchanging world. The autonomy of a university for maintaining its responsibility and dignity is as essential as the autonomy of the court of a country in providing justice.

Keeping in mind the principles of autonomy of higher educational institutions, as mentioned above, Tribhuvan University, our first and oldest university, was established in 1959 with full autonomy for its running. It was guaranteed by law. However, the prime source of its income or economic support was the country's government. Most of the vice-chancellors who were appointed in the beginning maintained its autonomy with dignity and prestige. They were of the caliber worthy of its autonomy with notable contributions and dignity. In this context, we can mention the names--of Ranadhir Subba, Sardar Rudra Raj Pandey, Dr. Trailokya Nath Uprety, etc., the ex-vice-chancellors. My beloved wife Shanti Mishra and I, being the loyal servers of this institution and working with them with total dedication and knowledge, witnessed it. We worked without compromising with anyone under the law, even with the minister or the vice-chancellor, for the benefit of this institution.

We never stayed behind in giving our opinions, even when we differed from the wishes of our buses. We never stayed behind to write articles for the betterment of this institution and the development of the education system. My book Tribhuvan

Biswabidhalaya ra Shikchya in Nepali (Tribhuvan University and Education) and my many other articles recently published in English, including 1. Politics and Professionalism

2. Professional Jobs and Political Service,

3. The Pathetic State of Tribhuvan University and Politics. 4. The Advertisement of a Vice-chancellor and Tribhuvan University are examples of our professionalism. But then vice-chancellors appreciated and encouraged us when we were right. They also were never reluctant to resist any kind of pressure from any high power circle or person for this institution's dignity. With the changing times and period, the existing partyless Panchayat system collapsed after the 1990 movement in the country, and the multiparty parliamentary system with a constitutional monarchy was established. In this context, Girija Prasad

Koirala, the leader of the Nepali Congress, became the Prime Minister. In the name of democracy, according to him, for the improvement of democracy, he started the politicization of government and semi-government administration by giving retirement to the officials who completed 20 years of service regardless of their expertise, talents, and honesty. Kedar Bhakta Mathema, the vicechancellor he appointed, implemented the same policy in Tribhuvan University by giving retirement to 22 firstclass and special-class officials. My wife Shanti Mishra and I were both among them. We were both pure professionals and never involved in political activities-directly or indirectly--and had nothing to do with the pantyless panchayat system or the multiparty parliament system. That was the beginning of surrendering the autonomy of Tribhuvan University to the government visibly. He obeyed his master's command, which later was followed by all other of his successors, politically appointed vice-chancellors. It became like a custom to obey the government in any matter at the expense of the university's autonomy, whether it is right or wrong, working at the wishes of the power circle.

As a result, our university lost its autonomy in practice, though the autonomy is still in the law. The Vice-Chancellor, and the executive head of the university, became obedient employees of the government. Then, the government started to appoint vicechancellors or other university authorities who were their political lieutenants rather than academicians. Consequently, political interference appeared visibly in universities. The irregularities were visible even in the University Service Commission Office and the Office of the Controller of Examination at TU, which had not been heard in the history of this university previously. People may well remember that corruption cases in this regard were filed in court from time to time. According to the news published in Kantipur on April 2, 2024 (2080 Chaitra 20), Tribhuvan University has lost about 1000 ropanis of land at Kirtipur. This does not include the lost land of Tribhuvan University at Jamal, which has a long history as a professor's residence. The land is occupied by some individuals or organizations or given to different organizations under the pressure of the government, ministers, or politicians. The names of the land occupiers are mentioned in the news. This constitutes the most condemnable malfeasance in this university. Even its property could not be protected, and the country's most prestigious institution became like an orphan, helpless. By reading this news, we can undoubtedly say that this is the result of the loss of autonomy of the university, political interference, pressure, and the appointment of the vice-chancellor or other officials based on politics rather than academic merit, lacking the courage to stand as the head of an autonomous institution. This is also a result of the disfigured democracy that existed in the country, contrary to the ideal democracy that everyone aspires to.

Democracy, instead, has come to mean that most politicians can act as they please.

You are not supposed to complain against a powerful person or circle, even if you are pinned and get hurt. If you do, you are bound to suffer more from them. It's better to keep quiet if you are helpless. That is the Nepali saying. I, too, was cautioned by my well-wishers not to speak, or write against the wrongdoings done by powerful people. But I cannot control myself when speaking and writing the truth. I don't know if that is my weakness or strength. According to the news, as mentioned earlier, the present vice-chancellor, Dr. Keshar Jung Baral, is determined to get the lost land back. I wish him success in his worthy endeavor. I also hope he will try his best to get its autonomy back and present himself as a vicechancellor worthy of its autonomy. I also hope that the newly appointed Rector, Dr. Kedar Rijal, and Registrar, Dr. Khadga K. C., will cooperate with him and act in the same spirit to reclaim the university's lost land, including the land at Jamal and autonomy. Their words and actions should align.