Lord Desai, who is the member of Governing Council (earlier Mentor Group) said that the bureaucratic hurdles have apparently come into the way of University’s progress.
“All those who are trying to hold up NIU––I do not exactly know who they are––are unable to understand that this is a University, which has a global impact much beyond the boundary of Bihar,” he was quoted in Hindustan Times in its Friday edition. He is at present in Luxembourg.
Lord Desai said that the news of former President A P J Abdul Kalam’s refusal to be the Visitor came as a surprise to him. “I was there three years ago and he was so much involved with it. Ever since the Bihar government came up with the first Legislation on Nalanda University he was the Visitor,” he added.
The London School of Economics scholar said that after the Parliament Act repealed the State Act he was deemed to be the first Visitor. “I do not know what happened and why. Perhaps the head of the Governing Board Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen will be able to tell better. But whatever happened does not augur well. Now another person with such a distinguished track record as Kalam would have to be found out for Visitorship.
He also expressed surprise over all the row over the appointment of VC-designate. “Everything has been done as per the provision in the Act. People should know that it is an International University governed by special Parliament Act. It is not another UGC regulated university. Also it is not University for Bihar only,” he added.
Desai said that the VC-designate had been appointed by the Board which was authorized to do so. Only a Visitor can appoint VC. When the VC designate was appointed the Act was yet to be passed.

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