Centre doesn't want me to pursue second term as Nalanda University ... - Zee News

New Delhi: Nobel Laureate Dr Amartya Sen, who is one of the world's most celebrated economists and thinkers, had reportedly hit out the BJP government at the Centre for pressurising him not to pursue a second term as the Chancellor of Nalanda University.

The noted economist had written a five-page letter to the Governing Board of the university in which he had mentioned that he is opting out of a second term despite his unanimous election by the Board for the coveted post on January 13.

Sen further alleged in the letter that the Visitor, President Pranab Mukherjee, has also not been able to provide his consent to the board’s decision because of the absence of government’s approval.

“As board members are aware, our visitor — President Pranab Mukherjee — has always taken a deep personal interest in the speedy progress of the work of Nalanda University, and given that, we have to assume that something makes it difficult — or impossible — for him to act with speed in this matter,” Sen was quoted as saying in the letter by the media.

"Non-action is a time-wasting way of reversing a Board decision, when the Government has, in principle, the power to act or not act," Sen further added.

"It is hard for me not to conclude that the Government wants me to cease being the Chancellor of Nalanda University after this July, and technically it has the power to do so," the veteran economist wrote.

Sen also condemned the increasing political interference in matters related to academic institutions in his five-page letter.

Sen, however, concluded by saying that he has written the letter with a "heavy heart since re-establishing Nalanda has been a life-long commitment for me" and is "using this occasion to publicly communicate that I shall do whatever I can over the remaining time I have, though the leadership of the long-run planning of Nalanda has, obviously, to come from someone else".

Dr Amartya Sen is known to be a vocal critic of PM Narendra Modi and had criticised his leadership throughout the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign. Dr Sen's latest face-off with the Modi-led BJP government at the Centre may soon catapult into a political debate, considering the involvement of high profile persons in the case.