KUPA is NOT virtual !

Sijan Baral,KU

This article is in response to those ‘betrayed faculty members’ who fear that there is a no-KUPA movement (NKM). What provoked me to write, and for the first time in this blog, is about the existence of this virtual group. Apparently, this is a rumor, and I don't believe it. But it is also true that most of the people purported to be members of this clique are not KUPA friendly, at least at KU everybody knows that. No wonder at such critical times we just don't need people with whom we are close and know them better, but also those with whom we share similar ideologies. It's good to disagree within such a periphery, and debate further on how to proceed. While I cannot discount the antagonistic roles of most of the people in the so-called NKM, I doubt whether that would ever formalize, not for moral reasons but for the gravity such a movement would earn.

There is no denying that some people were more important in the initial phase of KU establishment and they had to rope in many near and dear 'qualified' ones to keep the departments at KU running, but a worst truth still is that there are many more who have taken undue credits either by exploiting proximity with these 'visionary planners' or acting in a servile way. Now in such a volatile situation if there are a group of people meeting together over a cup of tea or in a more formal context like Alumni meeting or private pre-farewell party of some sick boss, it should not be construed as people going against KUPA. The fact is these are the group of people who feel can do much better in their profession by not aligning with KUPA, and they have every right to believe so. It would, however, be a different story if they are seen aggravating any courageous KUPA (or KUSA) supporter. I am aware that KUPA has already advised KU admin not to downplay the role of KUPA and treat its members fairly. We are already ready to contribute in the university affairs and end the adhoc style of management. Our readiness cannot be thwarted by a few whimsical cronies.

In the initial phase some of us met Dr. Panna Thapa and discussed candidly on what principle KUPA is formed. I remember he said, “The day I am convinced KUPA model works, I will salute KUPA.” Now that he has seen KUPA isn’t joking, he has perhaps a better answer. In fact, Dr. R. B. Chettri once told me that even if he supports most of KUPA’s demand, he cannot become a KUPA member because he was now one of the office bearers. One new professor from School of Education went to the extent of exposing the ‘ways’ of KU authorities in dealing with the school and whined over the favoured treatment meted out to the part-time Dean. He was ‘happy’ that finally a teachers’ organization can listen to his complaints when every others　has failed. But he was only afraid that if he joined KUPA, or was seen supporting it secretively, he would not be taken kindly by the VC whom he knew personally. What surprised me most was he feared losing his job since he was in the mid of his probation! Frankly, KUPA doesn’t count the support of such spineless ‘professors’, and I bet they are only here to have a job. Remember the day when some 65 people signed a paper to have an association? The next day there were people who retracted by saying, ‘I signed it because people were signing it, and it was raining!’ or said, ‘They gave me the pen!’ What a poor show of intellectual maturity. Shame. Well, that is no bravery either. What if they had signed a case against themselves for swindling someone? It may be a hypothetical question now, but a modestly educated person doesn’t just sign, and when he does, he is committed to it.

Everybody must realize that each of us deserves to give as much to an organization as we expect from it. One of KUPA’s advisors Dr. Bibhuti Jha says, ‘An organization should not deprive an individual, but the individual is free to opt out if he sees his progress elsewhere.’ But there is a two-way process to this. One cannot just milk a cow by not feeding her, and surely, one is obliged and not-obliged towards the cow at the same time. The relationship is symbiotic. The cow thrives if only one milks her. The cow does not offer us the milk, it is natural of the cow herself, and we respect the cow for this. This is true of one’s family, relationship, or trait of an organization. Unfortunately, those who have ‘milked’ KU feel more obliged towards those who have ‘offered’ them. And it is this group that is seen to be hostile towards KUPA. But, those who feel that they deserved the facility, promotion, scholarship, quarter, pay leaves, etc. would still support KUPA and held their head high. And there are still those who support KUPA because they feel the right cause must be supported. I personally respect the later group. Interestingly, some people are not really against KUPA but fear that they will lose their close ties with the present KU bosses. What do you think will those people do once their patrons are gone? There is already a feeling of alienation in some departments where an odd faculty has gone against KUPA. In the School of Engineering there are people who wish to take KUPA membership, and I am sure they are not saying this just to impress us. Recently when Dr. Subodh Sharma took KUPA membership he was exuberant. His instant remark was, ‘Now every faculty members of KU must be KUPA members, even the VC.’ And he is not wrong. That is exactly the philosophy of an organization that proclaims to look after the well being of its members and pledges to stand by them if they are treated badly. What is wrong here? Do we not survive on mutual give and take? Is it not trust that binds our relationship? If one member in the family does well, don’t we feel proud and make that achievement a family decoration?

I am optimistic that tomorrow’s KU will be an even more respectful place to work where professionals don’t have to bow or beg, where the dignity of an individual will be maintained by all high or low, where people are respected not for their gray hairs but for their values and vision, where the children of tomorrow will come to learn to dream and learn to realize their dreams without being ridiculed. I am hopeful that a day will come when all teachers of KU will proudly say that I am a KUPA member and a member of KU family together. Rabindra Nath Tagore wrote nearly one hundred years ago:

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action--
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

Let’s consider it a pride in advocating freedom for ourselves and others, we all have so much to do in these fleeting moments. And finally, if there is really an NKM group, would they come up boldly to share their philosophy so that we can appreciate openly.