Gujarat Confidential

There are further comments about various committees being headed by “junior” academics. Another comment takes a jab at the contentious subject of disciplining the students: “Commanding attendance in class under the threat of detention does not speak well about the quality of teaching.”

Apparently,the document’s authors were only impressed by GNLU’s Rs 150-crore campus and its well-stocked library. However,it remained a mystery as to who were the authors of the report. The mystery deepened with Professor N R Madhava Menon,chairperson of the review committee,stating,“I am not supposed to disclose the report’s content until the Chancellor has taken appropriate action. I can’t say whether the report in circulation online is the same the Commission has submitted or not.”

‘Gujarati Krishna’

Leaders have a way with rhetoric. It was evident at the inauguration of the country’s first yoga university in Ahmedabad recently. Inaugurated by Chief Minister Narendra Modi,the event saw many speakers wax eloquent before him,delivering lengthy speeches. The audience,however,was taken by surprise when a speaker called Lord Krishna as one of the “six crore Gujaratis”.

The speaker argued that although Lord Krishna was born in Mathura,he ultimately settled in Dwarka as a king and,therefore,he could be called a “Gujarati”.

Legendary indifference

The State Government organised an awards distribution function in Ahmedabad for prominent writers and literary figures. Called Gujarat Gaurav Awards,they were given to seasoned humorist Tarak Mehta and veteran journalist and author Bhagwati Kumar Sharma. The function,however,saw few people turn up to witness the moment of joy in the twilight years of these great writers. The general public’s indifference towards such legendary figures in Gujarati language doesn’t bode well for the future of regional literature in the state.

Dashed hopes

Three top officers of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) reportedly decided to cancel their proposed official tour to Sweden after they allegedly did not get the permission.

The four-day sponsored tour was to begin this week and the officers were to study the technology that helps generate electricity from solid waste. The officers were invited for the study tour by a Swedish energy firm which has developed the technology. However,the civic officers now might not get the opportunity to escape to the cool climes of Europe even as Rajkot sizzles.