Meet on Nov. 24 to discuss BU’s role in Tamil Conference
BU Vice-Chancellor C. Swaminathan told journalists that the meeting would discuss how students, teaching and non-teaching staff could help in making the meet successful. The university was contemplating working on Kongu Tamil for the ensuing conference.
A total of 4,000 staff members and 2 lakh students would contribute to the World Classical Tamil Conference. The university would be a part of various committees.Mr. Swaminathan said that his predecessor had arranged for translating the books authored by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi by forming a committee of experts. As many as 12 books had been translated into English. They were: Tholkappiya Poonga, Kavithai Mazhai, Kavithai Mazhai I and III, Sangha Tamil, Ponnar Sankar, Thenpandi Singam, Anarkali, Paayumpuli Pandaravanniyan, Urainadaigal, Parasakthi-Manohara and Sirukathaigal.
The books would be released either in December or January at the Madras University Centenary Auditorium. The university had received 15 applications for starting new arts and science colleges in the region.The applications were under consideration. On the issue of granting autonomous and deemed university status,
Mr. Swaminathan said that the Government was keen on increasing the gross enrolment ratio from 11 per cent to 15 per cent. In developed countries it was 30 to 40 per cent. BU had received applications for autonomous status from four colleges. In the past, universities had succeeded in retaining their hold over colleges which acquired autonomous status but controlling the functioning of colleges with deemed-university status had proved difficult. Following complaints, the University Grants Commission once undertook a review of the functioning of deemed universities, which was followed by a review by Human Resource Ministry. A decision was pending in this regard.
A transit home for scientists was being constructed at the university with funding from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Rs. 5 crore. The transit home would have three floors and 20 to 30 rooms.The university was also holding talks with the DRDO to offer a course on Snow Physics from the next academic year, if possible. The new course would have classes for half of the duration in Chandigarh.
