Pankaj Advani, many other sportspersons are studying in Jain University, which is under HRD Ministry scanner
Pankaj Advani, many other sportspersons are studying in Jain University, which is under HRD Ministry scanner
Some of the country's celebrated sportspersons are among the thousands of students who have reason to be anxious as their city-based educational institute has figured in the nationwide list of establishments that
may lose their deemed university status.
World professional billiards champion Pankaj Advani, cricketers Manish Pandey, Karun Nayar and Mayank Agarwal, national badminton champion Aditya Prakash, chess grandmaster Ashwin Jayram and other sportspersons representing India in the 2010 Commonwealth Games are pursuing various courses in the city's Jain University, which finds itself under a cloud over its status.
Jain is among the 44 educational institutes named across the country in a report for not being fit to retain the status of 'deemed university'.
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"This is unfair," said a senior member of the staff at Jain. "This is certainly bad news for students who are the nation's pride. It's unfortunate to know that we are among the list of universities listed for derecognition as 'deemed' university. Students are obviously worried after they heard the news."
Jain University has given many national and international sportspersons to the country.
Indian cricketers Robin Uthappa and Kotragada Appanna, swimmers Shikha Tandon, who is an Arjuna Award winner, and Nisha Millet, who is an Olympian, are all passouts of the Jain group of institutions.
Among the current students, billiards champion Advani is waiting to take his examination in post-graduate diploma in business management, while cricketer Manish Pandey is doing BA.
National badminton champion Aditya Prakash, and Indian Under-19 cricket squad members Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nayar are BCom students. Chess grandmaster Ashwin Jayram is also doing BCom.
"It will certainly affect us," said Aditya Prakash. "Even shifting from one syllabus to another if our university is derecognised is a cause of worry, as coping with an entirely new system is not easy."
There are also those who will be participating in the Commonwealth Games, including BBM student Gagan.
Even as the HRD Ministry observation has got over 3,000 students of Jain University, the management is waiting for the details of the matter to reach them.
"We are positive that things will continue as they have so far," said M S Santhosh, joint registrar, Jain University.
"We will be possible to comment on the derecognising aspect only after getting an official communication from the HRD Ministry."
The management has also started exploring various options to safeguard the interests of sportspersons, besides other students, said sources.
"Safeguarding the interests of our outstanding students, who are playing for the country, as well as other students is our top priority," said a source close to Chancellor Chenraj Jain.
"We are exploring legal options in this regard. We won't let our students face any trouble."
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