Mallika Ghanti surrounded with controversies
Hampi Kannada University has its own place of pride in the history of Karnataka. Many renowned thinkers have enhanced the value of this institution. The role of this University in bolstering the cause of Kannada can never be ignored.
But in the recent times, the university is in news for reasons other than constructive ones pertaining to literature, language etc.
It is rather a sad thing that the VC of this University, renowned thinker Mallika Ghanti is in the centre of such storms that are exactly not positive to the image of the University.
If a teacher loses track, his students lose the path and gradually this will lead to deterioration of the society at a higher level.
At the same time, the impact of a deteriorating University on the state and language is simply immeasurable in terms of damage done to various aspects of the state. With this being the reason, we will have to take developments in the university with more seriousness than ever. The fact that a controversial guest being invited to the literary event organised by Hampi University caused a great furore in various circles of the state.
One cannot even imagine Hampi University without Prof M M Kalburgi. His contribution to Kannada literature and research is beyond mere comprehension. When such a person was killed, a senior journalist write a rather distasteful tribute to him.
The first allegation on Ghanti is that she invited such a journalist to Hampi University as guest. There are many right leaning writers, thinkers and researchers. They all have excellent rapport with Hampi University. They have also been invited as guests for various events. But no one ever criticised Ghanti for that.
The public wanted to know what was that pertinent reason for Ghanti to invite a person who write disgusting tributes to those thinkers and writers who were murdered. Many for and against arguments were also presented. After the university students protested against this, Ghanti went and cancelled the whole event.
Another equally inappropriate decision by Ghanti was quietly ignored on the same occasion. Hampi University has been giving Nadoja award in the name of Adikavi Pampa since a long time. This award was inspired by the “Desikottam award” that is given in Shanti Niketan established by Rabindranath Tagore.
Nadoja title has been conferred on many stalwarts such as Kuvempu, Nijalingappa, Gangubai Hangal, Kambar and others. This time Nadoja was conferred on an incomprehensible haste to literary organiser Manu Baligar. He may well be deserving of this title. But there are accusations that Mallika Ghanti has violated a few norms while nominating persons for this award.
Sometimes such allegations may deride the value of the award as well. And this may cause embarrassment to even those who received it. Hence Ghanti owes it to people that these allegations be answered to. According to Kannada Universities Act 1991, the president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat is the member of governing board of the University. In this case, it is Manu Baligar.
In the 25 year history of Kannada University, no senate or Syndicate member has been conferred with this award. So the credibility of this selection is under scrutiny now. According to retired lecturers of the University, there have been gross flouting of norms in selecting a candidate for this award.
Normally the practice is that the governor will set up a committee of three members consisting former VC of the University, another professor from any other university, and another member as indicated by the Syndicate members. But this time around, syndicate did not suggest any names for its part.
Another aspect is before placing the name of Manu Baligar for discussion and approval by Senate and Syndicate, Mallika Ghanti had announced the name before the media members directly.
One of the RTI activists suggests that she had not even opened the envelope that had the final name of Manu Baligar before making the announcement, as some syndicate members has informed the activist. If a member or any persons get benefited by the university the act is equivalent to committing grave errors on work. This is a punishable offence under 1998 anti corruption act sec 7.
All these allegations have caused serious damage to the reputation of Mallika Ghanti that she has been safeguarding since long. She has to come clean from all this. This is not just the question of Ghanti's reputation alone but also of the credibility of the University itself. This has to be remedied for.
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Karnataka Lokayukta to register case, probe Bowring wall collapse
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Lokayukta Justice B S Patil on Thursday took serious note of the compound wall collapse at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in the city that killed seven people, and announced registration of a case on its own while warning of action against officials found responsible.
The Lokayukta, who visited the site and conducted an inspection, expressed strong displeasure over the incident and questioned the inaction of authorities, even as police and emergency teams had earlier rushed to the spot to rescue victims trapped under the debris following heavy rain, strong winds and a hailstorm on Wednesday evening.
“I will now register a suo motu case. This is not just about this one incident — such incidents must not occur anywhere in the state or the city in the future,” Justice Patil told reporters.
Seven people, including a six-year-old girl, were killed and seven others injured when the compound wall collapsed as rain-battered victims had taken shelter near it, according to police. The victims included people from Kerala who were in the city on a study tour.
Calling for systemic accountability, the Lokayukta said, “Dilapidated buildings and weakened compound walls, especially in areas with public access, must first be identified. They must either be repaired, demolished, or rebuilt.”
He added that responsibility would be fixed on officials of the BBMP and the concerned departments.
Justice Patil said that hearings would be conducted and preventive action initiated, while also probing those responsible for it, how the incident could have been prevented, and why it was not prevented.
A Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) team and a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team also inspected the site, while police cordoned off Kovil Street to facilitate the probe.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the government had initiated measures following the rain-related incidents and stressed preparedness.
“Since last night we have initiated measures regarding the rains. When it rains heavily, we must be prepared, and we are working towards that,” he told reporters here.
On the wall collapse, Shivakumar said, “I will not directly blame any officials. It was an old wall, and trees had grown alongside it. Due to that pressure, it collapsed.”
The Deputy CM said instructions had been issued to identify such vulnerable structures and clear areas around them, including relocating street vendors.
Karnataka Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil said a technical assessment had been ordered.
“This is a very serious matter. Innocent people have been affected. We are issuing directions to the engineers to find out why this compound wall collapsed and to assess its structural strength,” he told reporters after inspecting the spot.
The Minister noted that the wall was ‘very old’ and required thorough examination to prevent recurrence.
Speaking to reporters, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asked the Karnataka government to take precautions to ensure that incidents like the collapse of the Bengaluru government hospital compound wall, which caused loss of life, should not repeat.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad said the collapse raised questions about construction and maintenance practices.
“If a wall collapses within 25 years of its construction, it needs to be examined -- whether there was any technical issue, or if anything was altered inside, weakening it. All this can only come out through a technical investigation,” he said.
The Congress MLA also called for wider structural audits across the city, stating that all such structures, whether private or government, must be audited.
He urged citizens to support victims, saying it was a collective responsibility in times of crisis.
