My Impression of KU

Ram Chandra Poudel

After successfully reviving democracy in country , it's now time to free　our universities from autocratic administrators. Universities, the　temple of learning should set example of democracy, equal opportunity, 　peace and harmony. Society learns from universities.Teachers of　Kathmandu University have all right form a formal forum for ensuring their 　academic dignity and professional rights.


Teachers make very conscious, learned and active and　part of the society. At different contexts they give it different names　like Unions, Associations, Societies or Forums; professionals come　together to discuss about their work, rights and benefits. Organization　is the very essence of human civilization and all principles of natural　law, human rights and social doctrines support the right to organize.　Even the most bourgeois capitalist systems allow organization among its
working class. In absence of such platform employee find it difficult to communicate their genuine ideas and grievances to the concerned　authorities. But the so called 'visionary' leaders of Kathmandu 　University have forbidden their teachers from forming a professional　forum. V.C. Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma and registrar Dr. Sitaram Adhikary　don't want teachers to unite under an umbrella of professional body.

There is no proper system of academic, administrative and financial management in KU. The university has been run like a private partnership　company for years. So we frequently prefer to call it Sharma & Adhikary Company rather than a university. There is no fixed set of rules and 　regulations governing selection of teachers, their career growth and　other facilities accorded to them. Professional　competence, academic caliber and teaching ability do not matter when　teachers are promoted to higher ranks. Those close to the top management or those who are in some way relatives of KU-big wigs, easily climb a vertical ladder of success. That's why we can see sons,　daughters and nephews of VC and registrar working in KU. But Dr. Sharma & Dr. Adhikary don't feel ashamed at all because they are not　academicians any more. They are mere administrators who have failed　terribly in their job. The generation to come will have no respect for　them.

Literally Dr.Sharma has himself irrevocably ruined his own reputation as an educationist. The quality of education being rendered at KU is questionable. The lab infrastructures are quite poor and the　university has totally failed in retaining able and qualified faculty members. One by one all capable people have left KU or have been forced to leave. Nothing to mention about the fee structure of courses, KU is　for limited few. It took Dr.Sharma decades to reach to a height where 　people started to respect him but within no time he plunged into a chasm surrounded by countless allegations against him. He is in a position　where he cannot defend himself. Just by giving big talks and floating in euphoric　theoretical dreams how long can Dr.Sharma cover his weakness and his　failure as a VC? He has taken nepotism to a new height. May be he wants　to set up a hereditary administrative system in the university. The inancial discipline at Kathmandu University is a big question.

Financial audits are not transparently done and how the management makes　money and spends it is almost a closely guarded secret. We don't know　how much affiliation fee KU levies from affiliated medical colleges,　what is the amount collected from students, from donors and sources? And　how this money is spent? Where does it go? Teachers are very poorly　paid. There is huge disparity between the salary scale of an entry level 　teacher and that of a management executive. The management disregards　teachers and treats them with an air of　superiority. New posts are created to induct favored individuals into　the university or to promote near and dear ones. Let us cite few xamples; the ISMU Head position was tailored to suit the son of　registrar. The post of associate dean of school of engineering was　specially created for　Dr.BholaThapa who is another big disaster inside KU.　Dr.Thapa is a totally worthless person, good for nothing; it is very　difficult to describe him in words. His only specialty is his long known intimacy with the registrar and a never ending greed for money. There is　a big web of nepotism and favoritism inside KU.

Now to add to that the KU leaders have turned dictators overnight. They are saying teachers are　not allowed to organize. If teachers unite together and speak against　the malpractices and irregularities, Dr.Sharma and Adhikary will have　problems in ruling over the university in a more or less monarchical　style. They are shamelessly occupying their positions as VC and　registrar since past 15 years, amidst strong protests from the 　stakeholders. There is a saying in Sanskrit: *"एक लज्जम परिताज्यम, सर्वत्र विजयी वनम:"* (when one discards shame he wins everywhere)　that means a person who is not afraid of public shame or when a person 　overcomes a feeling of shame he will win everywhere. Just like a fierce　animal he will bully his way through everything. Same thing applies to　Dr Sharma. He has lived his king-size life, opened a university of his 　own, became its VC for years, visited places, got glimpses of luxury,　got acquaintance in high class circles and employed all his kith and kin　in the same university, now why should he care about the teachers or the students. After all for him KU is a personal garden. How the creatures　living in it can revolt against him? That's how he thinks. But this is　twenty-first century, an era of great socio-political awakening. People like Dr.Sharma and Adhikary are like expired medicines and are injurious to health of Kathmandu University.

The administration of Kathmandu University is a model of monarchical　feudal administrative set up. The VC and the registrar are like 　authoritarian rulers who have been exercising autocracy blended with　regression since a long time ago. It seems the country's monarch picked
a page out of their book and took the step of February 2005. In fact　royal regression had made them very happy. The monarch had imitated　their model of administration. But only to fail in this shameful way.

People's revolution is about to bring radical changes in the country. At this mean time all faculty members and staff of KU should launch a non-cooperation movement with the KU management. It's time to bid a　farewell to the wicked, undemocratic, non transparent and corrupt leadership of KU.

Dr Sharma and Dr Adhikary have no fixed philosophical or social ideology. People without principles, they are like lizards: with the　hanging political condition of the country they change their camps　vernight. Truly antidemocratic by nature, they always tried to remain　lose to the people in power, to politicians, to palace agents and to　ational international capitalists. During the 12 yrs of multiparty　ｐolitics they were close to political leaders just to make avail of　facilities from the state. Radheshyam Adhikary a middle rung leader of Nepali Congress is brother of registrar. And during the active rule of　king, they left no stone unturned to please the palace. They invited　royal guests to important university functions. That was a clear attempt 　from their part to please the palace and remain in executive position for next consecutive turn.

And when the people's movement took speed they were very worried. Instantaneously they decided to donate some money to the welfare fund for victims of People's Movement. They thought by doing so they would appear 'pro democratic'. KU administration known for its financial waywardness decided to transfer the donation funds to Dhuikhel Hospital which was a part of KU itself. Why the university management didn't transfer the funds to hospitals at Kathmandu? Many questions are being raised. Were they planning to embezzle the fund or were they simply trying to perform a drama of 'donation' by circulating the money within the university? But instead of clarifying very crucial issues the university management is still trying to run its autocratic writs over the university staff.

Morally it would be right for them to resign from their posts and make way for new democratic, responsible and resurgent Kathmandu University. We had enough of them. Until we free our universities and educational institutions form regressive elements we cannot be assured about the newly revived democracy in the country. An emergency meeting of the senate should be called and upon its recommendation the prime minister should sack them from their posts. The ailing university needs dynamic and democratic leadership. A high level commission should investigate all illegal and inappropriate appointments made in the university in past years. The property of VC and registrar should be investigated. KU hasn't transparently published its audit report for years. All the available funds of university are being funneled into construction works. They are lured by the hefty commission amounts which they get from the contractors. In this way the university's reserves will be depleted to such an extent that it will be very difficult for new management to run the university. It may reach to verge of severe financial crisis in the near future. If we dream of academically sound, research oriented, vibrant and dynamic Kathmandu University we will have to show courage and give a massive blow to already weak university management. Strong protests should be made from the side of teachers and students to overthrow the corrupt university management. As extreme measure teachers and students should organize protest/gherao programs and approach the government. After all there is limit to everything. How long will we tolerate autocratic administrators in academic institutions?

Ram Chandra Poudel
Former Teaching Assistant
Mechanical Engineering Department (KU)