A university divided in two by Partition

The design of a monument that is to be made commemorating the importance of this year will also be unveiled at the ceremony. The ceremony will be attended by various distinguished alumni of the University from India as well as Pakistan,retired professors and students.

The University,often compared to a phoenix rising from the ashes of its death,was established in Lahore in undivided India. In October 1882,the University College there was made into Panjab University. After the partition of India in 1947,the University was also divided in two parts. While the one left at Lahore was called University of the Punjab,its Indian counterpart,shifted to Shimla was named East Panjab University. When India was declared a republic in January 1950,the word ‘East’ was dropped from the name. The campus was later transferred to Chandigarh,due to problems in Shimla like its severe winters,limited accessibility and lack of adequate accommodation facilities.

Remembering the good old days,Professor D V S Jain (Chemistry),who has been a teacher at the University for 49 years,said,“PU has seen many highs and lows in the past years. The University has produced many distinguished people who are remembered as a part of Indian History today. However,in the past 30 years,after the terrorist activities here,many talented people do not wish to come here. Due to this,research and academic activities have suffered a lot here”. He says that with the passage of time student-teacher relations have suffered a lot which is not congenial for the University’s atmosphere. Professor Jain,along with Professor V K Anand,has written a Biography of the University,called ‘Flight of the Phoenix’.

Professor R P Bambah (Mathematics),a former Vice-Chancellor of the University,complains that the University has been bogged down by petty issues of local parochialism and personal agenda. Remembering the University’s attitude earlier towards encouraging academics,he recalls his appointment to PU. The then VC had allowed him a two-year study leave for his fellowship at Cambridge University just three months after joining.

“As Vice-Chancellor,I wanted to appoint Dr Manmohan Singh,as a professor in the University. However,the idea could never materialize as some teachers protested against his appointment due to his age. He was 58 then and the retirement age of professors was 60”,mulls Professor Bambah.

He says,“There is no thirst for talent here any more as trivial issues have taken precedence. People don’t think big any more,which has led to the deterioration of the standards of the University. It has the potential to produce great leaders,researchers,scientist,economists and academics as it has in the past,but there is a need to aim high”.