By IANS,
Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday met Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen, who is adviser to the chairman of the mentor group formed for Presidency University, to discuss about the ways to make it a centre of excellence.
“We had a discussion on the issue. She has said whatever decisions and suggestions the mentor group will take will be implemented. She also said that we must work towards the development of the standard of education in the state,” said Sen at a book launch ceremony here.
Asked if he felt that the university’s standard has fallen, Sen replied: “I cannot comment on that. Unless and until I have evidences about its standard and analyse them well, I cannot make a comment.”
On his role on redeeming the prestige of the university, he said: “I am an adviser. I cannot take any decision. But so far as restoring its glory is concerned, I, along with all the group members, will do our best.”
He also said along with the Presidency, other institutes of learning like Jadavpur University also need to be looked at, and stressed the need for improving the overall standard of higher education in the state.
Sugata Bose, whose biography on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was released by Sen at the Town Hall programme, said: “We have been entrusted with the task of bringing back the glory of Presidency. We will do our best. If successful, it can be a model that can be followed by other institutions.”
Bose is a grand-nephew of Netaji.
Bose, also a Harvard university professor of history, is chairman of the Presidency mentor group. He said as per Sen’s guidance and other members’ suggestions, the group will work harmoniously towards achieving its goal.
Eight scholars from India and abroad have been named in the mentor group, led by Sen, to restore the lost glory of the newly-formed Presidency University – born out of the historic Presidency College that had cradled the 19th century Bengal renaissance.