Bengaluru Central University inaugurated; logo, site launched

Amidst a grand  ceremony on Wednesday, the newly formed Bengaluru Central University was inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Its website, logo and a vision document were also launched on the occasion.

Chief  minister inaugurated the university by unveiling a plaque at the Central College premises. He also inaugurated the restored clock tower.

Founding Vice-Chancellor Prof S Japhet said addressing the chief minister. "We will need at least Rs 1,000 crore to build this university but to begin with please give us a sum of Rs 500 crore. Then, we will be able to bring it to the standards you have dreamed of."

He requested the chief minister to grant an additional land of 40 to 50 acres and to sanction additional teaching and non-teaching faculty posts.

In response, Siddaramaiah said,"We will give you the land and money but you should ensure quality education first."

Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy said the state's Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education is 26.5%, higher than the national average of 25.2%. "In the next five years, we want to increase it to 40%," he said.

Laptops will be distributed to first-year students of BE, BA, BCom, BSc and polytechnic in government colleges for free at a cost of Rs 300 crore, he said.

Nine old students of Central College were felicitated by the CM at the ceremony: Scientist Dr Roddam Narasimha, film director M S Sathyu, poet S Nissar Ahmed, former editor of Deccan Herald and Prajavani K N Hari Kumar, freedom fighter H S Doreswamy, former chief justice of the Supreme Court Justice M N Venkatachalaiah, educator Dr Geetha Narayanan, scientist Dr Vasudev Aatre, and poet Dr Siddalingaiah.

Poet Nadoja K S Nissar Ahmed reminisced about his time as a student and later, as a teacher. Ahmed poked fun at transport minister H M Revanna, who was also a student of Central College and present at the event. "I am not sure if he has the right to sit here because he did not come for a single class. He used to sit on the compound wall of the college," Ahmed said.  

Two universities without VCs

Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy said that the names proposed for the post of vice-chancellor of Bangalore University (BU) had been sent to the Governor. The names recommended for Mysore University will also be sent in two days, he said. The two universities have been without vice-chancellors for more than a year.  

Late beginnings

Students were irked that the programme began two hours late since the chief minister arrived at the venue only at 1 pm. Many left the venue even before the chief minister delivered his address.