Here's What You Need To Know About Amartya Sen Quitting Nalanda University

It isn't hard to figure out why former Nalanda University chancellor Amartya Sen might have quit Nalanda University. Here's a perspective on what could have happened.
This is his incredibly wordy explanation (don't worry - we've explained it below)

"Non-action (by government) is a time-wasting way of reversing a board decision, when the government has, in principle, the power to act or not act...It is hard for me not to conclude that the government wants me to cease being the chancellor of Nalanda University after July, and technically, it has the power to do so. This delay, as well as the uncertainty involved, is leading, in effect, to a decisional gap, which is not helpful to Nalanda University's governance and its academic progress. I have, therefore, decided that in the best interest of Nalanda University, I should exclude myself from being considered for continuing as chancellor beyond this July, despite the unanimous recommendation and urging of the governing board for me to continue."

If you look, just a bit closely at Sen's record at Nalanda University, you'd agree that his goodbye is for the best. There's crores and crores of rupees that haven't resulted in the kind of infrastructure you'd imagine.

Don't ask me where the money went

In 2007, former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam proposed of reviving India's former academic glory, Nalanda University. A Rs 2,727-crore financial support package was given to Nalanda University, and when a query was raised over fund usage, Amartya Sen threatened to quit.

Salaries - for what exactly?

The university began in 2014, but salaries were already being paid much before that! According to a Tehelka investigation, an RTI reply revealed that vice chancellor Gopa Sabharwal and seven of her associates were drawing salaries since October 2010. And how much? Vice chancellor Gopa Sabharwal received a monthly salary of Rs 5,06,513 per month. that is the highest salary ANY vice chancellor has received in India!

Rs 2.11 crore: Spent on meetings

A 'mentor group' chaired by Amartya Sen met in Singapore, Tokyo, New York, Delhi and Gaya to establish the university's planning. They still managed to miss their 9 month deadline to file a final report.

And a Delhi office - just to use for a better toilet!

And, despite having a university campus in Rajigir, another one was set up in Delhi, 1,100 km away because the VC and her friends didn't like the on-campus toilets.

Amartya Sen somehow forgot to show up for the inauguration!

Nalanda was envisioned as India's premier university - maybe even a Harvard of sorts in terms of the prestige it would have. Yet chancellor Amartya Sen didn't appear on the inaugural day.