Some alumni have written to us expressing lack of clarity in the media coverage of the GoI announcement as it relates to the governance structure of our institute as a new Indian Institute of Technology. We feel that the GoI Press Release is extraordinarily unambiguous (a feat for a government notification!) in cutting the umbilical chord to Banaras Hindu University in matters of funding, control and governance.

Let's take a closer look. Bold text is lifted straight from the government notification. The Union Cabinet's Decision gives in principle approval for three things that are explicitly and singularly spelled out for IT-BHU, unlike for any of the new IITs:

Taking over the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University – a constituent unit of the Banaras Hindu University, a Central University: This should leave no doubt in anyone's mind that an IIT, each deemed to be a University by law and convention for many decades, can not be a part of another University. Will hold for IIT, Varanasi, too.

its conversion into an Indian Institute of Technology: This removes residual doubts about the future name of the institute. Taken together with the previous point, anyone thinking of a future name such as Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, i.e. IIT-BHU, is at best indulging in wishful thinking and at worst doing the bidding of vested BHU political interests lobbying for the status quo. It will either be a full-fledged IIT or remain subservient to BHU administration. The latter what we have had for decades. The very reason for the cabinet's decision is to move away from it. So let's put to rest rumors of an IIT-BHU for that pursuit shall lead us to a dead-end.

integrating it with the IIT system in the country: That is, the institute will have the education pattern, admissions criteria, funding and the governance structure exactly the same as for any other IIT. As we know, the first two have been in place for decades. Funding ha already gone up this academic year. The governance structure will transform into operating under the IIT Council (and no more the BHU Council!). The IIT Council will expand to include the Chairman and Director of IIT, Varanasi. That leaves for debate whether the chairman of IIT, Varanasi will be the Vice Chancellor or the Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University. To make it so perpetual has the disadvantages of a) requiring a cabinet or parliament decision, and b) requiring a minister, for the IIT Council operates under the President of India and therefore by convention the Union Cabinet, to forever give up the discretionary power of making one more appointment which, as we know, politicians are loathe to do. At best, the Union Cabinet may use its discretionary powers to appoint the BHU Chancellor as the Chairman of IIT, Varanasi for the first term to aid in transition.

So, what gives? Great news for all of us who want to see us freed from the BHU political and administrative control. Bad news for those indulged in the wishful thinking of an IIT-BHU.

Three cheers for the Indian Institute of Technology, Varanasi!!

PS. Would love to hear your take and see comments. For some reason, our comments module isn't working. Any blog wizards who can email the admin to help troubleshoot?