There was once an animal on earth — dangerous, courageous and unbeatable — but it couldn’t cope with the changing climate condition. No matter how much we praise the giant animal, certainly it was not a successful creature as it could not learn how to survive in adverse conditions. Yes, we are talking about dinosaurs. Although Allahabad University is an educational institution, its story is not different from the extinct dinosaurs. Once a knowledge centre par excellence, Allahabad University is today struggling for existence.
A Golden Legacy
Interestingly, Allahabad University was founded just after the Congress’ formation and the university came as a ray of hope in the era of darkness. It soon became the go-to place to study for the higher education. In the early 19th century, it flourished and bloomed and soon it became the nucleus for Hindi studies. Famous Hindi poets Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Mahadevi Verma graduated from this prestigious university and today, one can still find the essence of the poetic environment on the campus.
Allahabad University played an instrumental role in the Independence movement as the great educationist and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya (who later founded the Banaras Hindu University) spent part of his life in this university. After Independence, the university witnessed its golden days, with at least three prime ministers, three presidents, several chief ministers and countless Justices graduating from this university. Subsequently, it became the nerve centre of the Indian intelligentsia, with the university becoming synonymous with IAS aspirants.
What Went Wrong?
Just as the dinosaurs succumbed to a changing environment, the Allahabad University too could not adapt to the force of the modern education system. The advancement of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), which is situated in the neighbouring city of Varanasi, put a pause on Allahabad University’s growth. BHU’s investment in cutting-edge technology, Varanasi’s attraction, and the blending of ancient culture with modernity provided BHU the upper hand over Allahabad University.
Another factor that dented the growth of the Allahabad University was globalisation. After 1990 many private universities mushroomed and provided attractive offers to youngsters; students switched interests to technological fields, traditional courses became unpopular among youth. This led to a fall in quality of education, and the university has failed to keep pace with the rapid changes in the education system ever since. Previously known for its excellence in education, Allahabad University has now become the ‘adda’ of local politics.
All is Not Lost Yet
Once hailed as the ‘Oxford of the East’, Allahabad University has been reduced to a local university. But in this post-truth world where war, pseudoscience and devastation prevail, humanities and arts are again becoming relevant and it is the perfect time for Allahabad University to reclaim its legacy. An alumnus of Allahabad University Firaq Gorakhpuri used to say “Aane wali naslen tum par rashq karegi hum-aseeron, jab unko dhyan aayega tum ne Firaq ko dekha tha.”
It will be a sad day for Indian education system if we have to talk about Allahabad University in past tense. Allahabad (now Prayagraj) is situated near the Sangam, a confluence of rivers Ganga and Yamuna. A university also represents a confluence of ideas. Just as we have preserved the Kumbh, we must also preserve this site of learning.
Pushkar Kumar Jha is an MA 2nd year student of Sociology at Jawaharlal Nehru University. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication.
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