Early Pathways of Sikkim University: Some Reflections

A decade down the line, since Sikkim University was declared established on July 02, 2007, I feel it was, as if, few days ago that we read news of establishment of a new Central University in Sikkim. Young and not so young academic minds located across spaces of the country but with deep association with the region were overjoyed by the news. It was, indeed, a proud moment for all us.

When I, incidentally, met the newly appointed Vice Chancellor on 14 July 2007 on the sidelines of the Council for Social Development’s training programme at State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), Karfectar, he updated about the new university and the anticipated opportunities and challenges on its path. He further informed me that he was forming a team to undertake what he termed as a ‘University building Project’ and that he wanted dedicated young minds like me to join his team.

I was quite excited by the offer as it was, perhaps, the only opportunity for me to return back to the region from Delhi where I had been working as well as pursuing my PhD. I resigned from my employment at the Council for Social Development, New Delhi, by the end of July 2007 and was relieved to join Sikkim University on August 14, 2007. I joined the University on August 20, 2007

The Vice Chancellor had been operating from a room in the State Guest House since he joined SU in the first week of July. I was advised to occupy the adjacent room. Sikkim University functioned from the State Guest House for about 04 months. During the period, the State Guest House was Sikkim University as well as our residence. In the mean time, besides several other paper works, we pursued to the State government for an administrative office of the University and VC’s residence.

In September 2007, the government of Sikkim generously allocated the then Youth Hostel located at Samdur on rental basis to Sikkim University to start its initial administrative functions. We undertook minor repair works of the building and officially shifted to the present Administrative Block on November 01, 2007. The first set of executives, apart from Vice Chancellor and myself, joined the University on the same day. The first Registrar and Finance Officer joined the University in the second half of 2008 and the first Controller of Examinations joined in the autumn of 2009.

Having spent a relatively luxurious life in Delhi, the new settings in Gangtok were more difficult than I had initially anticipated. With the nocturnal habit of roaming around well beyond 12:00 at midnight across the campus of JNU, it was, initially, difficult for me to digest the fact that Gangtok goes to bed by 9:00 in the evening. Further, Sikkim University was declared only on paper without anything on the ground. We had to accompany the SU ACT (2006) to justify the existence of Sikkim University for all the official purposes. For example, we wanted new telephone connections. BSNL repeatedly asked for the valid documents to justify the address of Sikkim University. After pursuing for over a month we could finally convince BSNL for the first set of telephone connections in the University. Issues around basic facilities like inefficiency in photocopying, work culture, limited options of cheap food outlets were other forces that we had to be adapted with during the first few months in Gangtok. Some of the foundational exercises we undertook in the first one-year included:

i)    Preparation of a document on the status of higher education of Sikkim,
ii.)   Affiliation of all the colleges of Sikkim with Sikkim University,
iii.)  Designing of new curricula for undergraduate programmes of affiliated colleges,
iv.)  Developing the framework of semester system for Sikkim University and its affiliated colleges,
v.)   Evolving an evaluation pattern for Sikkim University, and
vi.)  Designing the Schools, Departments, and academic programmes of Sikkim University.

The first four academic departments that we decided to start were Social Systems & Anthropology (now Sociology), Microbiology, Peace and Conflict Studies and Management, and International Relations.

Till about mid-2010, I operated more like a multi-tasking staff member within the University. I coordinated examinations, monitored college affairs, purchased required university items, coordinated important meetings including ECs and ACs, shortlisted applications, coordinated research projects, drafted annual reports and also drafted important letters of the Vice Chancellor. One of the invited professors once jokingly remarked ‘you are the most qualified and decorated clerk of Sikkim University’ and I agreed to him.

Things became slightly smoother after the first set of permanent administrative staff joined the University in the latter half of 2010. In August 2010, I was transferred to the School of Policy Planning and Studies to coordinate research projects, teach and undertake other academic activities of the University. I joined as a permanent faculty member in the same school on 29 March 2012.

Looking back, I am happy that I got opportunity to be member of the founding team of Sikkim University. At a relatively young age, I was exposed to very many critical responsibilities of the University system particularly in academic administration and examinations. The whole process was a lifetime learning experience for me. I used to feel elated when members of affiliated colleges during their routine visit to the university said ‘we know only two persons in Sikkim University: Lama Sir and Khawas Sir’. These words have no meaning as of today but they used to galvanize me to work harder and longer.

Sikkim University started with two members with its office at the State Guest House (Gangtok) and gradually grew from strength to strength. The first five years were rather harsher, more unorganized and less institutionalized than the last five years. We had no office timings and used to work well beyond the official 5:30 pm and sometimes till 11:00 pm. Establishing an institution of higher learning is a far difficult proposition than what many detractors may perceive from outside. I feel honoured, fortunate and so proud that I was part of the Sikkim University building process.

May SIKKIM UNIVERSITY enlighten the world for thousands of years to come!