‘EFFECTIVE THINKING IS IMPOSSIBLE’

Summary

This newspaper article reports remarks by Prof. N. K. Sidhanta, identified as Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University, at the annual convention of Lucknow University. He argues that political attraction and partisan conflict among university students disrupt the academic environment, leaving the community unable to sustain effective thinking or the communication of ideas. He criticises teachers who encourage students to become partisan and says universities should cultivate intellectual independence rather than political activity.

Key points

• Sidhanta attributes political tension in universities to the attraction and excitement of political fights among young people.
• He says an atmosphere of political struggle is foul and that effective thinking becomes impossible when the university community is divided by political loyalties.
• He criticises teachers who encourage students to join political parties and argues that universities should preserve independent thought.
• He maintains that political participation distracts students from academic work and from the university’s declared educational purpose.
• He links the decline of intellectual standards to residential and institutional conditions, including overcrowding and inadequate accommodation.
• He argues that universities must cultivate patience, perseverance, tolerance, and broad-mindedness rather than partisan zeal.