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PROF. AGAM PRASAD MATHUR: The Path Finder

From the editorial board of Felicitation Volume

I  II  III  IV


Academic Excellence

The primary function of a University is to promote and establish academic excellence. Prof. Mathur directed all his efforts towards this end from the very beginning of his first term of appointment. Prof. Mathur had the high aspiration that Agra University becomes a real temple of learning, that it is known for its academic excellence and the intellectual and moral quality of its alumni, that it is able to produce students possessing a balanced personality and a well-trained mind, fully-equipped with knowledge and training to meet the growing needs of the society in the emerging areas of human activity and interest. These objectives necessitated the establishment of a full-fledged residential wing of the University. Till then the residential wing of the university consisted of three Institutes only, viz. (1) K.M. Institute of Hindi and Linguistics, (2) The Institute of Social Sciences, and (3) The Institute of Home Science. But these Institutes had not been functioning as efficiently as they should have been. Prof. Mathur first made concerted efforts to streamline these Institutes. But it was soon realized that a few more Institutes were urgently needed. Consequently, efforts were set a foot to establish an Institute of Basic Sciences and an Institute of Vocational Studies. These Institutes were subsequently established. The Institute of Basic Sciences had five P.G. Departments, viz. Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, and Mathematics. Each of these Departments started with three major courses - M.Sc, M.Phil., and PhD The syllabi for M.Sc. in different subjects were different from and more advanced than the courses in force in the affiliated colleges. Some new courses were also introduced such as Clinical Chemistry, Nuclear Physics, Computer Application and System Analysis, and Social Forestry. Steps were also taken to develop the Department of History into a full-fledged Institute of Indian History and Culture. The University also set up an independent department of Library Science and Manuscriptology. Thus the University developed a comprehensive and multi-dimensional Residential Wing which brought the University at par with the prestigious residential Universities of the State.

Job-Oriented Courses

Prof. Mathur also envisaged that mere academic or theoretical education would not equip the students with necessary training to meet the needs and demands of practical life. As such he set up a number of job-oriented one-year P.G. Diploma courses which opened numerous avenues for jobs and self-employment. The more important of these job-oriented courses were: Hotel Management and Tourism, Diploma in Business Management, Computer Programming both in English and Hindi, Diploma in Physical Education, and Diploma in Adult and Continuing Education etc.

Proposals for the Seventh Five-Year Plan

It was also during Prof. Mathur's first term in office as Vice-Chancellor that the government invited proposals from the Universities for the Seventh Five -Year Plan. Under the guidance and patronage of Prof. Mathur, the University prepared and submitted the following proposals for the strengthening of the Residential Wing of the University. The present and future programming of the University Departments were submitted as given below:

  • Department of History
    Present Programmes PhD and D.Litt M.Phil. Diploma in Tourism.
    Future Programmes M.A. (History) Advanced Course (to be added) Diploma/Degree in Journalism and Mass Media. Diploma in Archaeology. Diploma in Fine Arts. Diploma in Women's Studies and Social Welfare.

  • Department of Physics Present Programmes PhD/ D.Sc. M.Phil. Future Programmes M.Sc. (Applied Physics) (to be added) M.Sc. (Electronics) M.Sc. (Computer Science) Diploma in Electronics and Instrumentation. Diploma in Computer Science and Digital Electronics. Diploma in Radiation Physics.

  • Department of Chemistry Present Programmes PhD/ D.Sc. M.Phil. Future Programmes M.Sc. (Environmental Chemistry) (to be added) B. Pharmacy Diploma in Clinical Chemistry. Diploma in Pharmacy. Diploma in Glass and Ceramics. Diploma in Petro-Chemicals. Diploma in Leather Finishing, Paints & Varnishes. Diploma in Drug Chemistry.

  • Department of Mathematics Present Programmes PhD/ D.Sc. M.Phil. Future Programmes M.A/M.Sc. (Computer Applications) (to be added) M.A/M.Sc. (Applied Mathematics) M.A/M.Sc. (Operations Research) Diploma in Program and Decision Sciences. Diploma in Meteorological Forecasting.

  • Department of Zoology Present Programmes PhD/ D.Sc. M.Phil. Future Programmes M.Sc. (Applied Zoology) with (to be added) specialization in Environmental Zoology Diploma in Modern Lab.Techniques and clinical Pathology. Diploma in Pathology and Biochemical Techniques.

  • Department of Library Science Present Programme B.Lib. Science. Future Programme Diploma in Library Science, Archives (to be added) and Museology.

  • Institute of Social Sciences (i) Department of Economics M.Phil. & PhD (ii) Department of Political M.Phil. & PhD Science (iii) Department of Sociology M.Phil. [already conducting PhD and M.A. (Alternative Course)] (iv) Department of Social Work M.Phil. (already conducting Master of Social Work and PhD Programmes) (v) Department of Statistics M.Phil. (stat.) conducting M.Stat. and PhD Diploma in Computer Programmes in Statistics) Programming.

  • K.M. Institute of Hindi Studies & Linguistics (1) Department of Modern Indian M.A.(Urdu) (facilities to teach Languages (already conducting Urdu for M.A. PhD, M.Phil. and M.A. Hindi Degree do not exist in Language & Literature courses any affiliated college); & Diploma courses for M.Phil.(Urdu); Proficiency in various Regional PhD (Urdu) Languages, viz. Gujarati etc.) (2) Department of Oriental M.Phil. and PhD in Sanskrit. Classical Languages (3) Department of European M.Phil. and PhD in Languages (already conducting English and a few diploma Diploma/Certificate courses. in Russian, French, German) (4) Department of Linguistics Diploma in Speech Therapy. (already conducting PhD, M.Phil. and M.A. Linguistics)

  • The Institute of Home Science The Institute of Home Science has been conducting Home Science courses for B.A., B.Sc., M.A., and M.Sc. degrees - each of two years' duration divided into four semesters. From the current session, the University has introduced a 3-year B.Sc. Specialised Courses as also M.Sc. Specialised courses in various fields, e.g. Child Development, Foods and Nutrition etc. Besides, the Institute's activities have been extended, to the conducting and guiding of research in various areas of Home Science, e.g. Child Development, Food & Nutrition, etc.

  • Department of Adult and Continuing Education and Extension National Adult Education Programme had been in force in the University for a number of years, but it did not prove very effective. This has now been streamlined and expanded, and the Department of Adult and Continuing Education and Extension has been established to conduct the three-phased programme under the scheme sponsored by the University Grants Commission under Point No.16 of the New 20-Point Programme of the Hon'ble Prime Minister. The Department has set up 340 centres of Adult and Continuing Education within the territorial jurisdiction of the University. The scheme aims at planning, involvement of students and teachers effectively in the eradication of illiteracy; providing special attention towards programmes for women, scheduled castes/tribes, the handicapped and people from the rural, backward and slum areas; relating the programmes directly to the needs, interests, aspirations and life-situations of the learners and to the national goals of socio-economic development through a process of operational linkages with the development programmes; helping in the acquisition of basic literacy skills, effective post-literacy follow up and continuing education, so as to bring the learners in the ambit of life-long learning process. The ultimate goal is to bring about a transformation of society through a change of attitude and through imparting training to working people.

  • Coaching Centres for Competitive Examinations Agra was conspicuously lacking in providing effective coaching to the candidates for competitive examinations. This is why only a small percentage of candidates for competitive examinations from Agra Region got into Central and State Administrative and Allied Services. Considering this fact, the University has introduced the system of setting-up coaching classes for various categories of candidates. The centres already functioning and the competitive examinations covered by them are detailed below :
    (1) Coaching Centre for weaker (i) I.A.S. and Allied Services sections amongst Minorities Competitive Examination (Under the scheme sponsored (ii) State Administrative Services by the Ministry of Education Competitive Exam. through U.G.C., New Delhi, (Executive/Judicial). under Point No.11 of the 15- (iii) Banking Service Competitive Point Programme of the Govt. Examinations. of India) (iv) C.P.M.T. (v) Entrance Test for admission to Eng. Colleges. (2) Coaching Centre for (i) P.C.S. (Executive/Judicial) Scheduled Castes/Tribes Service Competitive Exam. (Under the scheme sponsored (ii) Banking Service Competitive by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Exam. Govt. of India, under Point No. Note: 7 of the New 20-Point The Ministry's scheme does not programme of Govt. of India) provide for coaching for I.A.S. Competitive Exam. (3) Coaching Centre for Central All competitive examination Category of Candidates covered by the Coaching centre (Under the University's own for Minorities. scheme) 12. Special Cell for Scheduled Castes/Tribes It is also praiseworthy that Prof. Mathur was able to obtain sanction and financial help from the U.G.C. and the Central Government for establishing a Special Cell for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to help and guide them and to redress all their problems relating to their admissions, reservations, scholarships, financial assistance and training and employment. This cell is proving a boon to the candidates of these castes and tribes and is yielding the desired results. The Affiliating Wing The Affiliating wing of the University was given equal consideration by Prof. Mathur. There are 49 Colleges affiliated to the University and they are spread all over the Agra region, and the Homeopathic Medical Colleges affiliated to it are spread all over the State. These Colleges face numerous problems - some problems being common to all, some being individual problems. As such, an urgent need was felt for setting up a central coordinating body to organise and co-ordinate the activities of the affiliating Colleges. The College Development Council To meet this problem Prof. Mathur approached the U.G.C. to set up a College Development Council in the University. Consequently, the U.G.C. approved the setting up of such a Council under a whole-time Director. The objective of this Council was to facilitate and help the affiliated Colleges in the framing and approval of their various developmental plans and schemes. This Council functions as a link between the Colleges, the Residential Wing of the University, the U.G.C. and the State Government. This Council greatly helped the Colleges under the COHIPS, COSHIPS, Faculty Improvement Programme and several other schemes sponsored by the U.G.C. and the State and Central Government. This was a unique achievement of Prof. Mathur as the Vice-Chancellor. Academic Environment and Regularisation of the Session The most important contribution of Prof. Mathur as Vice-Chancellor, however, was the creation of peaceful academic environment in the University and affiliated Colleges, implementation of the academic calendar and regularisation of the academic session. The academic sessions prior to Prof. Mathur taking over as Vice-Chancellor were lamentably disturbed and delayed. The sessions started late in November or even December. Prof. Mathur resolved to regularize the sessions at any cost because without regular and undisturbed sessions, no proper academic environment could be created. Through slow and persistent efforts the desired goal was achieved with the result that the session 1983-84 started in August 1983, 1984-85 started in the third week of July 1984, and the session 1985-86 started on July 8, 1985. This was indeed a great achievement, though this could not be maintained after Prof. Mathur's first term in office ending in October 1985. The Interim Period The interim period of a little more than three years between Prof. Mathur's two terms in office as Vice-Chancellor was a period of lull and retrogression. Many of the steps, academic as well as administrative, taken by Prof. Mathur had either been withdrawn or crippled by his successors in the interim period. The University had gone back by decades. Back on the Track Prof. Mathur assumed office as Vice-Chancellor for the second term on the 28th April, 1988. The first task that he applied himself to was to bring the University back on the track and to restore normalcy. Having done preliminary work, he again undertook a number of projects to promote the academic and administrative tone and environment in the University. Institute of Vocational Studies Prof. Mathur gave top priority to stream-lining and further expanding the job-oriented P.G. Diploma courses. For this purpose he approached the U.G.C. and the State Government to set up a full-fledged Institute of Vocational Studies. Without waiting for their approval which normally takes time, Prof. Mathur set up the Institute with the approval of the Executive Council. Detailed Ordinances and syllabi in consultation with the experts in each field were framed and implemented. The following P.G. Diploma or Degree Courses were started under this Institute: 1. Hotel and Tourism Management 2. Archives and Museology 3. Electronics 4. Clinical Chemistry 5. Computer Programming & Decision Sciences 6. Social Forestry and Environment 7. Business Management 8. Accountancy 9. Administrative and Official Hindi 10. Translation 11. Journalism 12. Adult and Continuing Education (Certificate Course) 13. Adult and Continuing Education (Diploma Course) 14. Continuing Education and Extension 15. B.Lib Science and Manuscriptology 16. B.P.Ed.

All these were self-financing courses. Admissions were given to these courses on the basis of written competitive Test and Interview. These courses proved highly popular and the candidates holding these diplomas were well received by various employment agencies. In order to further expand and popularize these courses, the affiliated colleges were also permitted to open these courses on the condition that they fulfilled the prescribed terms and conditions. Several important colleges opened some of these courses. Three-Year Degree Courses The U.G.C. had recommended three-year Degree Courses for all Universities in the country several years earlier. Most of the Universities had adopted the three-year system, but Agra University had not been able to adopt it. The result was that several Universities and Service Commissions refused to accept our Degrees. Prof. Mathur took immediate steps to adopt three-year Degree Courses in all Faculties. The University also started awarding Honours Degrees. In order to tone up the academic standards, the system of admission through competitive examination and interview was adopted for all job-oriented courses, B.Ed., B.Lib. Science, LL.B. and all courses in the Faculties of Science and Commerce. For the same end in view, unit system in the syllabi and examination Papers was also adopted. All these measures went a long way in raising the academic standards of the University. Research A University is primarily known by the quality of its research work. Prof. Mathur made admirable efforts to promote research both in quality and quantity. He revised and updated the Statutes and Ordinances relating to research, giving special attention to Comparative and Inter-Disciplinary research. In the Faculties of Science, Mathematics, Medicine, Psychology, Sociology etc. he encouraged and promoted research of practical value and utility. Financial Stability Financial constraints stand in the way of development of every educational institution. Every University in Uttar Pradesh is facing financial crisis and deficit. The deficit of Agra University had accumulated to about Rs. 1.20 crores when Prof. Mathur assumed office. He made all out efforts to secure grants and financial aid from all sources - the State Government, the Central Government and the U.G.C. He also generated finances from several self-financing courses with the result that before he laid down the reins he completely made up the deficit of Rs. 1.20 corers and also left a surplus of Rs. 20 lacs. This was a great achievement through such a grave financial crisis. Other Achievements The University during Prof. Mathur's tenure did not keep itself confined within the ivory tower of mere academics. It performed many remarkable things in the socio-cultural fields at the national and international levels. It celebrated with great zeal and gusto the Nehru Centenary celebrations spread over a whole year. The celebrations included Youth Festivals, a series of lectures, debates and seminars, a Model Parliament, a very prestigious Nehru Exhibition and above all the publication of a Nehru Centenary Souvenir. The University also hosted an International Child-Care Meet, Indo-Soviet Friendship Meet presided over by Soviet Vice-President, and many more such functions. These were the achievements of Prof. Mathur during his two terms in office as the Vice-Chancellor. No other Vice-Chancellor of Agra University has enjoyed so much of popularity and celebrity, so much of fame and honour, and so much of result-oriented and fruitful tenure in office.

A Multidimensional Personality

The life and character, achievements and acquisitions, thoughts and philosophies of a multidimensional personality like Dadaji cannot be summed up in a brief biographical sketch like the present one. Even volumes would fall short in containing and assessing him. The blending and balancing of head and heart, spirituality and intellect, spirit and matter, munificence and renunciation, splendour and asceticism is a rare of the rarest phenomena. Such a rare phenomenon is Prof. Agam Prasad Mathur. His life is a living testimony to Tennyson's immortal lines: "Let knowledge grow from more to more, But more of reverence in us dwell; That mind and soul, according well, May make one music as before." This is only what I know of Prof. Mathur but much more of him is outside my knowledge. His followers and disciples, running into lacs, hold him in highest veneration and reverence. To them he is their most revered 'Guru', their spiritual head, their moral succour and support, their harbour and rock of shelter to land upon. They look up to him and are spiritually fed by him. He is their pole star and their lighthouse. I bow my head to such a sage in all reverence and veneration. These, my stray thoughts, are my offerings and adorations on his sixty-fifth birthday with earnest prayers to Radhasoami Dayal that we may celebrate many more of his birthdays in the same spirit.

Dadaji Maharaj


Dadaji Maharaj - His life and works

Article by ABI


An article written on Dadaji Maharaj by ABI, USA

Evolution of Faith

Research Article published in Journal of Indian History Society, Calcutta, India in March 1970

Ethical Norms

Ethical Norms For Moral Conduct
On the basis of discourses of PPPD Hazur Maharaj dictated in Prem Patra

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