Lecture on “Rethinking University” held at AMU

ALIGARH:The University Debating and Literary Club, Cultural Education Centre, Aligarh Muslim University organised a lecture on the topic “Rethinking University” at the Cultural Hall of Maulana Azad Library.
The lecture was delivered by Professor Apoorvanand Jha from University of Delhi.
Professor Apoorvanand spoke on the significance of internal discourse in universities. According to him, what matters the most is not what goes on in the classes but the discourse held outside the classes. He said that this is where the real conversations and interactions take place. Professor Jha also spoke on the 2013 issue of FTII and the Gajendra Chauhan controversy. The point Prof Jha emphasized the most was that of excellence, and how the students and faculty members of the Universities should strive for it. He suggested implementing the principle of excellence adding that “if you want to kill a university make mediocrity the ruling principle”. The lecture was followed by a question and answer session.
Wajahat Jilani, Secretary, University Debating and Literary Club hosted the event whereas the speaker was introduced by Professor Mohibul Haque. The lecture was presided over by Professor Asmar Beg.

Prof Jha was part of the core group that designed the National Curriculum Framework for School Education in 2005 and was a member of the National Focus Group on Teaching of Indian Languages formed by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT). He has written a number of critical essays in renowned Hindi journals and has also contributed columns in major English newspapers on issues like education, culture, communalism and human rights.
Around 100 people attended the lecture