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The Wire
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Wire
An MoU Cancelled Is an Opportunity Lost
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Politics An MoU Cancelled Is an Opportunity Lost D.V. Ramana 13 minutes ago When higher educational institutions disengage from international collaboration due to short-term political conflicts, they abandon their capacity for building relationships that transcend politics. Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now In a recent move, one of India's top management institutes announced it was terminating its academic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Turkey's Sabancı University. The Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode's director claimed the decision was in line with 'national interest,' emphasising values such as 'mutual respect, strategic alignment, and shared national values.' Though the decision aligned with overall mood of the country, it also raised critical questions about the role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in times of political unease in the country over incidents like the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Should academic institutions echo state policies, or should they operate as independent spaces for intellectual exchange and global cooperation? Education has always been seen as a powerful force for change. Several global leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela viewed higher educational institutions not as learning but as organisations playing a important role in shaping society and promoting peace. After World War II, HEIs played an important role in maintaining international ties and contributing to global advancement. HEIs are expected to work with a long-term perspective. They are expected to preserve the academic community, support national strength, and create a future through knowledge and wisdom. When HEIs begin to align too closely with short political decisions, they risk compromising their integrity and international standing. The recent decision of the management institute to follow the government may diminish its role as a moral and intellectual leader. Academic Freedom and National Security During global conflicts, national security is a legitimate concern. During war-like conditions governments may view relations with institutions in adversarial countries as risky or politically unsuitable. However, academic MoUs should be evaluated on their specific merits rather than being discarded wholesale. HEIs should assess whether specific collaborations pose actual risks to security or whether they provide genuine academic value. In many cases, political differences at the state level need not translate into academic seclusion. Continuing such relationships – even during conflict – can foster shared knowledge and cultural exchange, acting as channels for mutual understanding and positive diplomatic relationship in the long run. Even during the Cold War, American and Soviet scholars continued to connect through academic programmes. These exchanges served as informal diplomatic channels, promoting mutual understanding even when formal relations were troubled. When HEIs disengage from international collaboration due to short-term political conflicts, they abandon their capacity for building relationships that transcend politics. The decision by this premier management institute, to end its MoU with an international university, ignores the rich tradition of academic diplomacy. HEIs as agents of peace and dialogue Global conflicts may arise due to ideological, economic, or security reasons such as cross-border terrorism. Conflict resolution strategies, therefore, must be diverse and appropriately tailored. As Albert Einstein said, 'The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.' HEIs can lead this transformation through teaching, research, dialogue facilitation, and public engagement. Therefore, the cancellation of international MoUs sends a confusing signal to the public at large. The management institute should have kept the relationship alive to play its role as a facilitator of dialogue and innovation. As Leo Tolstoy said, 'War is a product of an erroneous way of thinking… and can only be abolished by a better understanding of human nature.' Such understanding does not emerge in silence or conformity. It is developed in classrooms, research collaborations, and intellectual discourse. HEIs are expected to provide such spaces. In fact, several HEIs have taken such steps in the past. A notable example is the University of Oslo and the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), which have a strategic agreement to emerge as a global powerhouse for knowledge on the prevention and resolution of armed conflicts. Drifting away from institutional mission Let me conclude by referring to the mission statement of IIM Kozhikode. It says, 'The Institute seeks to inculcate a spirit of wholesome learning and create a unique space of global reckoning, thereby nurturing capable and dependable management thinkers in the pursuit of developing socially responsible and environmentally friendly practitioners, leaders, and educators who will contribute towards creating a better world.' This mission underscores the broader responsibility that an institute must shoulder. It must not merely react to short-term national policies but must proactively shape a more equitable and sustainable future. The mission statement echoes strongly with the idea that HEIs must transcend national boundaries and foster global cooperation, especially in times of global conflicts that we are witnessing today. By disconnecting from a foreign academic partner, the premier management institute seems to have drifted away from its stated commitment to global engagement and knowledge exchange. D.V. Ramana is professor, Xavier Institute of Management, XIM University, Bhubaneswar. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News Eight Days, Nine Rallies, Six States: Tracking PM Modi and Operation Sindoor as Campaign Ammunition When Abroad, NDA Delegates Forced to State the Opposite of Their Exclusionary Politics at Home Modi's Search for Global Solidarity Rings Hollow Amid Rising Domestic Intolerance in India Listen: India's Reaction to Turkey is Understandable, But We Should Not Give Up on Diplomacy with it Gandhi's and Modi's Reflections on 'Sindoor' Are Poles Apart The Opposition Owes the Indian public Some Answers INDIA Bloc Pushes for Special Session of Parliament on Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor India Discusses Celebi's Security Clearance Revocation With Turkish Embassy India Needs a Clear National Security Strategy—Now More Than Ever View in Desktop Mode About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
India Gazette
27-05-2025
- Health
- India Gazette
Selfless Love: Mother donates organ to son for second time
New Delhi [India], May 27 (ANI): In an extraordinary act of maternal love, a 60-year-old mother has given her son the gift of life for the second time at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi. The remarkable story began in 2015 when she donated a portion of her liver to her son, born in 1997, who was diagnosed with a life-threatening liver ailment. Nearly a decade later, her son developed kidney failure, and she selflessly offered to donate one of her kidneys. She was declared fit even after her earlier liver donation, and was cleared to donate one of her kidneys. The renal transplant team at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in New Delhi, led by Dr Abhiyutthan Singh Jadaon, performed a highly complex laparoscopic donor nephrectomy, overcoming challenges due to the mother's previous major surgery. The recipient's transplant was handled by a skilled team of nephrologists under the leadership of Dr RP Mathur, navigating critical immunological hurdles. The transplant was successful, and the son was discharged after a 10-day recovery period. This extraordinary act of love and sacrifice has given him a new lease on life, thanks to his mother's unwavering devotion. In a separate incident earlier this month on May 4, a 20-year-old driver's wife chose to donate his organs after he was declared brain dead following a tragic accident. Banoth Ramana, a resident of Warangal district in Telangana, got into an accident when a tractor suddenly collided with his two-wheeler on April 27 last month. His family rushed him to a private hospital in 9:05 PM on May 1, Ramana was declared brain dead. Ramana's wife, Kalyani, chose to donate his organs, which have given six patients a second chance at life. According to an official associated with Jeevandan, Telangana initiative, the donated organs include two kidneys, a liver, a heart, and two corneas. (ANI)
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- The Hindu
Hoax bomb calls create panic in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam
Anonymous phone calls claiming that bombs were planted in the railway stations in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, on Lokmanya Tilak Terminal Express and on the busy Besant Road in Vijayawada kept the security personnel on their toes on Saturday (May 24, 2025). However, all the calls turned out to be a hoax. much to the relief of the authorities and the citizens as well. After the Police Control Room (PCR) in Vijayawada received a call at around 6.50 a.m., claiming that bombs were planted at public places, the police sounded an alert and conducted checks in Vijayawada railway station. Bomb Squads, along with sniffer dogs, rushed to the spot and scanned the entire Besant Road. As a precautionary measure, shop owners downed their shutters. Government Railway Police (GRP) Inspector J.V. Ramana said that Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads (BDDS) scanned the railway station thoroughly. 'Three sniffer dogs, BDDS and City Security Wing (CSW) officials checked the luggage, restaurants, parcels, waiting halls and other places on all platforms and confirmed that the call was a hoax,' Mr. Ramana said. 'We are checking shops, push carts and canals. Bomb detection teams were scanning the area thoroughly,' a BDDS officer said. During the investigation, the police identified that the miscreant made the phone call from Maharashtra. They also made similar calls in Maharashtra on May 23. 'The anonymous call was made from a stolen mobile phone. The owner of the phone had complained to the police. As per the police who received the call in the PCR, the caller spoke in Hindi,' said South Zone ACP D. Paavan Kumar. 'After receiving the call, we alerted the police in Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, Railway Protection Force (RPF), BDDS and the Government Railway Police (GRP),' the ACP said. The police are doing a thorough investigation, RPF Assistant Security Commissioner Kota Joji said. Hours after a hoax bomb threat targeted Besant Road in Vijayawada, an anonymous call claiming that a bomb was planted on the Mumbai Lokmanya Tilak Terminal–Visakhapatnam Express, which just arrived at Visakhapatnam Railway Station, created panic in the city. Teams from the city police, GRP, RPF, Bomb Squad, and Dog Squad did a thorough check of all compartments. The train arrived at the station around 1.45 p.m. Police sources said that a suspicious bag was found in one of the coaches during the inspection. The personnel found clothes, soap, a mobile phone, and other items in the bag. Later, it was reportedly found that a passenger had inadvertently left it behind. The authorities and passengers had a sigh of relief as no explosives were found. More details are awaited.
Mint
21-05-2025
- Health
- Mint
‘My family has suffered in silence': Madhya Pradesh HC judge's farewell speech on transfer with ‘ill intention'
Madhya Pradesh High Court Judge Duppala Venkata Ramana, who retired on May 20 (Tuesday), echoed profound bitterness in his farewell speech, saying "God does not forgive nor forget." Justice Ramana began his speech by saying: "It was a remarkable period of my life." Then he said: "I was transferred from the Andhra Pradesh High Court to the Madhya Pradesh High Court without any explanation,' the Press Trust of India reported. "I was asked for options. I opted for the state of Karnataka, so that my wife could receive better treatment," he said in a voice laden with pain. His wife is suffering from Paroxysmal Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES) and severe brain complications following the Covid-19 pandemic. Justice Ramana said his plea—a husband's earnest request born from compassion—for a posting fell on deaf ears. He had submitted formal representations to the apex court on July 19, 2024, and again on August 28, 2024, reiterating the severity of his wife's medical condition. "But the representation was neither considered nor rejected," he added, according to the PTI report. Another appeal submitted during the tenure of the previous Chief Justice also went unanswered, he said. Justice Ramana further commented: "I received no response. A judge like me expects at least a humane consideration. I was disheartened and deeply pained." He also acknowledged that current Chief Justice BR Gavai might have been more sympathetic—but it came "too late in the day as I am demitting office." Alleging that he was transferred with "ill intention", Justice Ramana stated: "Anyway, my transfer order seems to have been issued with ill-intention and to harass me. I suffered as I was transferred from my home state for obvious reasons." "I am happy to satisfy their ego. Now they are retired. God does not forgive nor forget. They will also suffer in another mode," he added. During his speech, Justice Ramana acknowledged that his career was marked by "struggles and bitter experiences". "I bore witness to the resilience of human existence, the power of human struggle, dignity in poverty, and most importantly, unshakable hope and faith," he said, adding: "These ordinary, everyday experiences" taught him that "except hard work, there is no shortcut to success".
Mint
21-05-2025
- Health
- Mint
‘My family has suffered in silence': Madhya Pradesh HC judge's farewell speech on transfer with ‘ill intention'
Madhya Pradesh High Court Judge Duppala Venkata Ramana, who retired on May 20 (Tuesday), echoed profound bitterness in his farewell speech, saying "God does not forgive nor forget." Justice Ramana began his speech by saying: "It was a remarkable period of my life." Then he said: "I was transferred from the Andhra Pradesh High Court to the Madhya Pradesh High Court without any explanation,' the Press Trust of India reported. "I was asked for options. I opted for the state of Karnataka, so that my wife could receive better treatment," he said in a voice laden with pain. His wife is suffering from Paroxysmal Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES) and severe brain complications following the Covid-19 pandemic. Justice Ramana said his plea—a husband's earnest request born from compassion—for a posting fell on deaf ears. He had submitted formal representations to the apex court on July 19, 2024, and again on August 28, 2024, reiterating the severity of his wife's medical condition. "But the representation was neither considered nor rejected," he added, according to the PTI report. Another appeal submitted during the tenure of the previous Chief Justice also went unanswered, he said. Justice Ramana further commented: "I received no response. A judge like me expects at least a humane consideration. I was disheartened and deeply pained." He also acknowledged that current Chief Justice BR Gavai might have been more sympathetic—but it came "too late in the day as I am demitting office." Alleging that he was transferred with "ill intention", Justice Ramana stated: "Anyway, my transfer order seems to have been issued with ill-intention and to harass me. I suffered as I was transferred from my home state for obvious reasons." "I am happy to satisfy their ego. Now they are retired. God does not forgive nor forget. They will also suffer in another mode," he added. During his speech, Justice Ramana acknowledged that his career was marked by "struggles and bitter experiences". "I bore witness to the resilience of human existence, the power of human struggle, dignity in poverty, and most importantly, unshakable hope and faith," he said, adding: "These ordinary, everyday experiences" taught him that "except hard work, there is no shortcut to success". "My family has suffered in silence,' he shared, "But ultimately, the truth will always prevail."
