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Save Agra University by splitting it into medical, agricultural universities

Can anything be done to save Dr BR Ambedkar University in Agra? This crucial question assumes even more importance when higher education in Uttar Pradesh seems to be reaching a low point of decline, with the state’s education minister hailing from the Taj city.

Agra University, established in 1927 and once a symbol of academic excellence, has seen its sheen fade over the past three decades. As one of India’s oldest institutions, it has produced stalwarts such as Chaudhary Charan Singh, Shankar Dayal Sharma and Mulayam Singh Yadav, as well as countless professionals from various fields. However, the university now stands on shaky ground, plagued by inefficiency, mismanagement and systemic degradation.

Read in Hindi: आगरा विश्वविद्यालय का हो विभाजन और पुनर्निर्माण

With close to 500 affiliated colleges from Noida to Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh and an enrolment of over seven lakh students, it is burdened. Delayed results, corruption, irregular examinations and large-scale cheating in mark sheets erode credibility. With many departments running on contractual and guest teachers, the system lacks enthusiasm and motivation among teachers and staff. Improper appointments, lack of promotion policies and lack of accountability have long plagued the systemic flaws.

Addressing these issues requires bold, transformative steps, with splitting the university into specialized institutions a priority.

The Thompson Medical School and Hospital, established in 1854, one of the first three in the country, which was later upgraded and rechristened as Sarojini Naidu Medical College, deserves elevation as an independent medical university. There are plans to upgrade its facilities to a mini-AIIMS and integrate Agra's historic mental hospital. Lady Lyall Stree Chikitsalaya has been already merged. Making the college a dedicated medical university by freeing it from Agra University will ensure focused governance, attract top-tier faculty and enhance health education while promoting cutting-edge advances in medicine and addressing regional healthcare challenges.

Converting Raja Balwant Singh College into an agricultural university is equally urgent and practical. Established in 1885, the institution is one of the largest institutions in the country in terms of land resources, with its Bichpuri campus specialising in agricultural extension, rural development and engineering.

Agra’s agricultural importance as a major producer of potatoes, pulses, mustard and wheat demands local expertise. Establishing an agricultural university will enhance research and innovation: address agro-climatic challenges, develop sustainable practices and support crop diversification. Promote farmer empowerment: equip farmers with modern knowledge, and improve productivity and income. Promote sustainable agriculture, train the next generation of agricultural scientists and practitioners in organic and environmentally friendly methods, and facilitate collaboration between academia, industry and government for agricultural development.

Upgrading RBS College to a university will increase its influence, allowing for better integration of research and practical applications. Splitting Agra University into a medical and agricultural university is more than an administrative reform – it is a strategic necessity.

For a long time, Agra Medical College and Bichpuri Krishi Sansthan, as mother institutions, provided faculty and experts to later-opened universities and government institutions, but they lagged in the race for development. There were discussions on several occasions to free Agra College and St John's College from Agra University and recognize them as autonomous institutions, but vested interests did not allow the matter to move forward. The problem is also that those responsible for running the system shy away from discussing these issues because the reward lies in worshipping the status quo.

But the time for change has come. Those who oppose change will seem to be disappearing like dinosaurs. By decentralizing its complex structure, the state government can revive higher education in Agra, promote innovation, and ensure a brighter future for agriculture and healthcare in Uttar Pradesh.

With its rich heritage in education, agriculture and medicine, Agra deserves institutions that reflect its potential. The time has come for stakeholders, teachers and students, to act decisively, leverage these historic institutions to address contemporary challenges and create centres of excellence that will shape the future.


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