[Assam] Assam's 1st Private University by 2008

[Pradip Kumar Datta]

        Private varsity project gathers momentum
    NAGAON     OUR CORRESPONDENT                 Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra is one of the many organisations named after the 15th century saint   Jan. 8: Nagaon-based Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha has petitioned the Tarun Gogoi government to table a bill in the Assembly for the establishment of Assam’s first private university, to be named after the 15th century saint whose gospel it propagates.
  If everything goes according to plan, the proposed Srimanta Sankaradeva University will become operational in 2008. Students will be able to choose from a range of courses on spirituality, technology and culture. Professional courses will be offered, too.
  Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha floated an education and social economic trust three months ago to manage the proposed university. 
  Upen Chandra Nath, the general secretary of the university’s masterplan committee, said the university would initially offer a two-year diploma in commercial agriculture and post-graduate courses on Sankardev studies and Sankori dance and music. 
  “The curriculum has already been prepared and we are planning to start classes at our Nagaon headquarters with a batch of 50 students in each department.” 
  Once the university gets a toehold, courses on management of natural resources and conservation, physical education, Ayurveda and natural therapy, applied science and technology will be added to the list.The head of Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha will be the chancellor of the university and an educationist with the requisite credentials would be appointed the vice chancellor, Nath said. 
  “At present, we manage as many as 84 schools in different parts of the state. We are planning to start a college in each district,” another senior member of the organisation said.
  Lok Sabha member Rajen Gohain has promised Rs 40 lakh from the MP’s Local Area Development Fund to Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha for a private college in Nagaon. 
  The organisation’s initial budget for the university is Rs 10 crore. It intends to move the University Grants Commission for recognition later. A market complex and agriculture, dairy and horticulture farms will be set up on the campus to make the proposed university a self-sustaining venture. 
  Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha is also planning to start a bank “for the common people” with its 27 lakh general members as shareholders. It will be more of a thrift and credit society but managed like a rural bank.

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