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| Buddhist Studies Deptt of JU may soon become 'history' | | Varsity contemplates to shut it, merge with Philosophy deptt | | Kunal Shrivatsa
JAMMU, Oct 27: The University of Jammu's (JU) Department of Buddhist Studies, which has the unique distinction of producing four foreign origin research scholars, may soon be a part of 'history' . It is whispered that the JU authorities have almost made up their mind to shut the Department and merge it with Philosophy, which the Varsity intends to introduce as a Post Graduate course.
Highly placed sources informed Early Times that JU administration is seriously considering the closure of Department of Buddhist Studies citing low strength of the students enrolled for the course this year.
However, the excuse of few students taking admission is correct to some extent only and the moves to shut down the Department is the brain child of some persons having vested interests.
"It is true that this year only three students took admission in the Department where as the minimum requirement is five to run the course as per University statutes…. The strength is certainly on the lower side but as many as 13 students were shortlisted for the course this year… The rule can only apply if less than five students had been shortlisted…But it is indeed a matter of concern that majority of them did not take admission," sources said.
The sources further said that instead of going in depth of the real problem, the authorities are rather resorting in hammering down the Department, which is running smoothly ever since its establishment in 1987.
The Department where as many as 25 research scholars did their PhD and more than 200 students completed their Post Graduation is being targeted merely due to the shortsightedness of the University authorities who fail to recognize that Buddhist Studies is an effective tool to counter the expansionist policy of China and that the Government of India adopted a policy of 'Look East' through Buddhism.
"Even as only three students have enrolled themselves for the course but in the event of Department's closure where will they go?… And remember it is perhaps the only Department of the University which holds the distinction of enrolling foreign students … Five research scholars so far has completed their Phd in Buddhist Studies and one more soon will complete the programme…. Three research scholars from Thailand, one from Myanmar and one from Vietnam enrolled for Phd programme from time to time…. This is no mean achievement," sources maintained.
The sources said authorities are merely taking advantage of the scenario rather they are searching for lame excuses to shut the department.
The sources further said that one of the reasons for low number of students enrolling for the course was the inability of the majority of the candidates to qualify the JU Entrance Test as the paper was set at par the level of NET and making it more difficult to crack was the method of negative scoring.
"How one can justify negative marking for a non-technical course…Even the UPSC does not apply it for the IAS preliminary examination… A large number of admission seekers could not qualify the test simply because they scored poorly due to negative marking," sources said.
If the reason of low strength of students is not enough, another wrong notion about the Department which is doing the rounds on campus is that it is a safe haven for the students having criminal bent of mind and to make things more complex is the suggestion of few intellectuals to establish Philosophy Department and merging Buddhist Studies into it.
"The view of criminals getting harboured in the Department is totally absurd…. This is a vicious campaign launched by those whose only agenda is to see the closure of the Department," sources said.
"Moreover, merging Buddhist Studies Department into the proposed Philosophy Department as is again a strange move as the course has very little connection with the Philosophy… Buddhist Studies covers a very little part of General Philosophy… It is strange on part of those who mooted the idea," sources added. |
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