Singapore's former foreign minister George Yeo resigns as chancellor of India's Nalanda University
Mr George Yeo has resigned as chancellor of the revived Nalanda University.
Mr George Yeo has resigned as chancellor of the revived Nalanda University. PHOTO: ST FILE
NEW DELHI - Singapore's former foreign minister George Yeo has resigned as chancellor of the revived Nalanda University, an ancient seat of learning in India's eastern Bihar state.
Mr Yeo announced his resignation in a statement on Friday (Nov 25), citing the creation of a new Governing Board which he said was "a complete surprise" to him and to most members of the old Governing Board, and that he was "neither involved in the preparation nor consulted beforehand".
"When I was appointed Chancellor in July 2015, I was told that a new Governing Board would be formed under an amended Act, core aspects of which the Ministry of External Affairs sought my views on. The amended Act would have removed a major flaw in the current Act which in essence offers Governing Board seats to East Asian Summit countries making the highest financial contributions in the last three years," Mr Yeo said in the statement.
"This provision, which was never recommended by the Nalanda Mentor Group, would not have been a good way to constitute the Governing Board and was the reason the Government of India requested the Nalanda Mentor Group to continue functioning as the Governing Board for a number of years until the Act could be amended.
"For reasons not entirely clear to me, the Government of India has decided to form the new Governing Board with immediate effect before the Act is amended. This is of course entirely the prerogative of the Government of India,'' he added.
"The circumstances under which the leadership change in Nalanda University has been suddenly and summarily effected is disturbing and possibly harmful to the University's development. It is puzzling why I, as Chancellor, was not even given notice of it. When I was invited to take over the responsibility from Amartya Sen last year, I was repeatedly assured that the University would have autonomy. This appears not to be the case now."
"With deep sadness, I have submitted my letter of resignation as Chancellor to the Visitor,'' he said.
Mr Yeo took over from Nobel prize- winning economist Amartya Sen as chancellor. He had been a prime mover of the revival effort of the educational institute since it was established in 2010. In 2012, the Indian government awarded him the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award in India, for his role in public affairs.
Nalanda, founded in the fifth century, was India's first residential university that drew scholars from China, Persia and Turkey. It was famed for its nine-storey library, burnt down by invaders in 1193. The revival efforts kicked off in 2006 and received the support of the East Asia Summit.
(This story is developing)
Mr George Yeo has resigned as chancellor of the revived Nalanda University.
Mr George Yeo has resigned as chancellor of the revived Nalanda University. PHOTO: ST FILE
NEW DELHI - Singapore's former foreign minister George Yeo has resigned as chancellor of the revived Nalanda University, an ancient seat of learning in India's eastern Bihar state.
Mr Yeo announced his resignation in a statement on Friday (Nov 25), citing the creation of a new Governing Board which he said was "a complete surprise" to him and to most members of the old Governing Board, and that he was "neither involved in the preparation nor consulted beforehand".
"When I was appointed Chancellor in July 2015, I was told that a new Governing Board would be formed under an amended Act, core aspects of which the Ministry of External Affairs sought my views on. The amended Act would have removed a major flaw in the current Act which in essence offers Governing Board seats to East Asian Summit countries making the highest financial contributions in the last three years," Mr Yeo said in the statement.
"This provision, which was never recommended by the Nalanda Mentor Group, would not have been a good way to constitute the Governing Board and was the reason the Government of India requested the Nalanda Mentor Group to continue functioning as the Governing Board for a number of years until the Act could be amended.
"For reasons not entirely clear to me, the Government of India has decided to form the new Governing Board with immediate effect before the Act is amended. This is of course entirely the prerogative of the Government of India,'' he added.
"The circumstances under which the leadership change in Nalanda University has been suddenly and summarily effected is disturbing and possibly harmful to the University's development. It is puzzling why I, as Chancellor, was not even given notice of it. When I was invited to take over the responsibility from Amartya Sen last year, I was repeatedly assured that the University would have autonomy. This appears not to be the case now."
"With deep sadness, I have submitted my letter of resignation as Chancellor to the Visitor,'' he said.
Mr Yeo took over from Nobel prize- winning economist Amartya Sen as chancellor. He had been a prime mover of the revival effort of the educational institute since it was established in 2010. In 2012, the Indian government awarded him the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award in India, for his role in public affairs.
Nalanda, founded in the fifth century, was India's first residential university that drew scholars from China, Persia and Turkey. It was famed for its nine-storey library, burnt down by invaders in 1193. The revival efforts kicked off in 2006 and received the support of the East Asia Summit.
(This story is developing)
