I have called urgent meeting to discuss the plan of action to reclaim Latin American Studies Programme at Goa University from the clutches of vested interests.
Date: Sunday 27th February 2005
Time: 10.00am
Venue: H.No. 31/A, Behind the Govt. Primary Health Centre, Marna, Siolim, Bardez, Goa.
Ph: 2272164 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
All those interested in this struggle; particularly the ex-students and ex-teaching staff of the Centre for Latin American Studies (CLAS) are invited to participate in the meeting. Others who wish to support this initiatives are invited to be present at this meeting too.
I am enclosing some information for your ready reference. However by no means it is complete narration. Rather it is only the tip of the iceberg!
You may confirm your participation by Saturday 26th February.
Thanking you.
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-
Sebastian Rodrigues Research Scholar, Centre for Latin American Studies, Goa University, Goa. 403 206
THE HORROR AT GOA UNIVERSITY
By Sebastian RodriguesThe Director asked me to join the University In higher education, he said, was scarcity of brilliance and honesty.
"Struggle in peoples' movements will reduce you to Chicken Xacuti: killed and roasted by the powerful and mighty.
In University You will get fellowship more so, if you satisfy UGC.
You must not generate movements amongst students in University"
He awarded fellowship with these conditionalities. I claimed money after some difficulties.
The second installment I was told, to collect latter on.
From the blue skies
descended the thunder "How is that money released to you and not to senior researcher?" I was questioned.
It is another matter Senior Researcher is the wife of the Director.
"While releasing the fellowship University has violated rules (a), (b) and (c). I will order to take back your fellowship Your remaining fellowship will not be released" roared the beurocratic monster!
"As per rules (x), (y) and (z) you have to pay Rs. 500/- to the University. And you have not paid your tution fees. Fellowship money will be used to pay your tution fees" Ordered intellectual Buffoon occupying Directors Chair.
"This computer in the department is not meant for the use of Research Scholars. It is only for the foreign students and teaching faculty" Blasted cranky jealous lecturer.
She claims to know International defence Stratagy; no wonder launched salvo on me, to signal warfare begining.
"You must pay Rs.200/- and use University Computers" In Goa University UGC Research Scholars have to pay for computer facility!
Her intellectual Bankruptcy made her shit scarred to imagine completion of my M.Phil thesis.
The irritating B**** entered my room to apply soothing solutions "I did all this Only for your benefit don't be angry on me"
Aggogance and demoralising terror for my benefit! There are no guns. Only words!
Her intentions so clear like the cute shining crystal stone. "Don't enter in 'our' cacoon. You be better dammedgutter cleaner of the streets"
Well. I am not the only one to face the victimisation and demoralisation at the Centre for Latin American Studies. There is a long list before me who have bowed down to the trickery of the Authority in disgust - some leaving even the the field of acadamy.
The first director of the Centre Prof. Abdul Nafey who refused to get arm twisted by the vested interests while running the Centre, left in 1990.
The Cetre then was run by two highly committed research students Anthony Fernandes and Shailendra Mehta.
Prof. V. Shivkumar joined the department as Dorector in 1991. He continues till date. In the last 14 years the centre has produced one Ph. d. - Rudra Pradhan who is currently employed in BITS VILANI Vasco.
Anthony Fernandes as well as Shilendra Mehta was tricked and demoralised forcing both of them to leave Academics all together. This denied Goa two promising intellectuals from emerging.
The latter additions- Deepak Shani and Chawla too fell for the net of the director and left Goa University's Centre for Latin American Studies.
Pushkar- scholar in Chilean studies after some years left for Canada.
Dr. Dalbir Singh went on a leave never to return back. In fact his whole collection of books is still lying at the department. By no way he was the first one to do this! The reasons are anybody's guess- inspite if Directors' bullshitings!
The prestigious Brazilian Chair was awarded to India was given to CLAS at Goa University. Within few years how Dr.Dilip Loundo was tortured and forced to take refuge at the Depatment of Sociology is the peice of knowledge in Public domaine by now.
Couple of years back Dr. Priti Singh got the most cruel treatment of all- she was not paid her salaries for one full academic year. and out of disgust she left for her home in New Delhi. She is now Research Associate at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) New Delhi. Director at that time told me that he wants her to be chucked out as she is going to establish Delhi Lobby in Goa if inducted in the department.
No Spanish teacher ever gets paid at CLAS and within few months classes stop as teachers leave. I have an experience too when I joined the course in 2001.
The suprise humiliating treatment was reserved for the Directors' teacher Emiritus Professor Narayanan Who had recommended him to Goa. After his retirement the Director promised the moon but rewarded with the shower of roubles! In the begining his salaries were blocked and then when Prof. Narayanan fought like ferocious Lion, used Registrar's office to serve eviction notice of the flat he was staying in as UGC visiting Proffesor- to vacate within four days. And the director was prompt in shedding crocodile tears and organised farewell party at International Centre- with all the students and staff- teaching as well as non teaching. The gentlemen in Prof. Narayanan did not disclose the secret of eviction notice to any one. I came to know about it only the year latter when he lold me about it in Delhi. I fondly remember his advice to me:
" Seby. you will be doing the great service to Goa if you expose what is happening in your own department". Of course he suggested me to do what he himself could not do. and I am consious about the same.
The Academic freedom has become intellectual harasment. Temple of learning is reduced to monster of mischief, manipulation and demoralization. Centre of excellence is transformed into centre of beuracratic butchery. "A generation students at the Centre for Latin American studies" declared Dr. Rudra Prasad Pradhan- the only student to get his Ph.d from CLAS.
When in July 2004 I gave him to correct my draft of dissetation on 'Origin of Movement of Landless workers Movement in Brazil' he told me that my level was of 8th standard Boy. Certainly it was a dose of demoralization that he keeps stock with himself. In February 2005 says my disseratation has disappeared from his computer and that why my remaining amount of over Rs. 18,000/- cannot be released!
The formula he adopts with staff and students is gradually dicipherable- after call the dog mad, and then shoot the mad dog! One thing that Director of CLAS forgot that every dog has his day! All the People cannot be fooled all the time! it is high time that this cruel game comes to an end. We are in an era where in we understand caste system and how boudries around knowledge were maintained very well. These boundries ultimately led to repeated conquests of India for thousands of years. CLAS director stands to perpetuate this very ideology in his practice- that is completely unacceptable. Perhaps he is living is a fools paradise in case he thinks he can bulldoze his ways any further.
The wider questions that are demanding answers is: what is going to be the guiding principle towards the process of knowledge production in the form of research? Is it going to be beurocracy or is it going to be Academics? How can the essence of research move ahead when Beurocrat cum Intellectual Psychophants such as director of CLAS hijacks the very purpose and treats the University set up as the milking Cow? No doubt. Research is held ransom to satisfy their flimsy wishes. The Universities in theses situations can at best become productions centres of mediocres. And this is what Goa University has become in the past few years ever since beurocracy have began to call the shots.
Now it is the time for public to engage with the university. After all it the public money through which the University is run. I stand to defend the Public right to question the affairs of the university. This is the ONLY way Goa University is to be resurrected.
Sebastian Rodrigues
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