Author: Bhavesh Chandra Pandey
Former Vice Chancellor of Tilkamanjhi Bhagalpur University (26 July 2001 to 15 February 2004), Prof Ram Ashray Yadav, is no more. He was also the Chairman of the BPSC, Patna.
He was exceptional and unforgettable because some would hate him, most would love him but nobody would ignore him. He was a man of vision and action. He was an energy bomb, a live wire, and a tireless motivator. Whatever he touched, he changed; wherever he stood, he made a mark. He created history; he moulded history and left an indelible mark on the page of the history of TMBU Bhagalpur.
He is remembered for his dymamism, leadership, vision, administrative guts, courage, fearlessness and commitment. How he generated a spark in a rusted system and enthused the moribund management of the University is a thrilling story. In a system where a Vice Chancellor is regarded as ‘a man with ants in pants’, he stood tall and unshakeable. With the magic wand of his will power and unyielding urge to metamorphose the system, he did what seems in the hindsight a blockbuster story.
He joined the university at a time when higher education was almost at the end of the agenda of governance of the then government. Employees were not being paid their full salary and new policy of ‘take home salary’(net salary without PF and other allowances) had been in practice to meet out the expenses of the salary of the employees. And even that was most unpredictable. Sessions were late, infrastructure was in a dilapidated state, teachers and employees were most irregular and unpunctual, normal classroom teaching was not available in most of the institutions and exams were mostly unfair. There was hopelessness, fatigue and negativity all around.
He came like a whirlwind with a determination to change everything and he joined the mission just after joining the job. From day one he was in the top gear and made his presence felt. His message was loud and clear- perfom and change or face the whip. Suspensions and transfers became a routine soon.
Every morning we would eagerly read the local pages of the newspapers only to find which ‘wicket fell’. The impact was felt soon. Attendance was tightened and teachers were asked to report which lessons they taught and how many classes they attended every week. Any non- compliance was instantly punished. Good performers were patted and rewarded.
Prof Yadav called a spade a spade and never minced words. On one occasion he got upset by the preparations of a programme and instantly ordered the Principal of the college to resign. On another occasion he burst out on the Principal of another college as he found cattle meandering in the campus of the college.
Prof. Yadav worked on the principle of provide, impress and punish. First of all he made sure to pay salary on the first day of every month. It was a daunting task beacuse the government was not paying salary regularly. So, he called the manager of Allahabad Bank in the premises of the University and ordered him to make overdraft payment. The bank reluctantly but out of fear agreed and our payment was regularised in spite of the non-cooperation of the government. He also developed a cirpus fund with donations from local people. Now Prof Yadav had the reigns in his hand and we were almost obliged to be at his beck and call.
Writer is Head, PG Department of English, Munger University; views are personal; Views presented are personal.