Revive lost glory of Patna College: VC

PATNA: Patna University (PU) vice-chancellor Rash Bihari Prasad Singh on Monday called upon the scholars of Patna College, the oldest institution of higher education in the state, to do self-introspection and find out the reasons for the gradual erosion of institution’s rich heritage and glorious tradition.
Addressing the first-ever convocation of graduate scholars of the college at Wheeler Senate House here, Singh said until few decades back the enlightened citizens of the state used to say that ‘Mintonians (the boarders of Minto Hostel of Patna College) rule India’.A large number of Mintonians used to qualify the UPSC civil services examination. As many as seven boarders of this hostel, all of one batch, had been selected for the administrative service in 1964, he said.
“But what has happened to this hostel as well as the institution itself today? The boarders of this premier hostel and other hostels of the college stack hockey sticks and often indulge in violent clashes on the campus,” he said.
The VC said it’s unfortunate that the students now question the integrity of their teachers who are supposed to shape their careers. “The students start agitation if they are declared failed in the examination owing to their very poor performance. They blame the examiners for awarding poor marks even if they do not write answers properly,” he said. The VC appealed to the students to conduct themselves properly and live up to the expectations of the society.
Altogether 380 students of the college had passed the honours examinations of PU in 2018. Of them, 170 received their degrees in person. They all were wearing yellow coloured Malviya pagdi and angavastram while receiving their degrees from the VC.
Chief guest Sudhir Kumar Rakesh, a retired IAS and an alumnus of Patna College, called upon the youths to turn the ‘possibilities’ into ‘opportunities’ and try to give their best to the society. “Students from Bihar do not lack talent. If they develop leadership qualities and team spirit, they will be second to none,” he said.
He advised the scholars to become responsible citizens and cultivate the habit of saying ‘sorry’ and ‘thank you’ wherever needed. “You are being continuously assessed and evaluated by the people through your behaviour and mannerisms and it goes a long way in establishing your credibility in the society,” he added.
Patna College principal R S Arya, in his welcome address, gave details of the development activities going on in the institution. He said NAAC peer team is expected to visit the college for assessment and accreditation next month.
PU registrar Manoj Kumar Mishra led the academic procession. PU former VC L N Ram, pro-VC Dolly Sinha, Patna College former principals N K Chaudhary and P K Poddar, Patna Science College principal K C Sinha, PU students’ welfare dean N K Jha, proctor Rajnish Kumar and examination controller R K Mandal attended the convocation.