By Prof. S.K.Bhalla
Today in th wee hours of the morning the news of Prof. K.L.Bhardwaj’s departure from the mortal world pricked my ears. Forthwith, I moved down the memory lane and reminded of my stint with him at Government S.P.M.R. College of Commerce in Jammu. It was a huge educational exercise to work with a strong martinet who would not buckle under any pressure. A hard task master and honest to the last penny he was one of the tallest among a small battery of upright degree colleges Principals of Jammu and Kashmir.
Prof. Bhardwaj’s principled stance on various administrative matters did not earn him many admirers. This is the way of the world as majority of us prefer a cozy course in life and remain oblivious of our duties during active service career to the detriment of the system. He would like to make his colleagues accountable and meaningful deliverers for the well being of students. He was a professor of Botany and knew well that a teacher like a gardener has to sweat and toil for blossoms to bloom in an educational institution. I am fully reminded that when Mr. Moses, Advisor to the then Governor of J&K visited SPMR College, Mr. Principal in his chamber offered me a bouquet for my exertions on the stage as a rare gesture of love and affection.
Finally, at the time of his superannuation, he told me that he came in the SPMR college with a pen and leaving it with pen only. A few teachers of that period were reluctant to participate in his farewell party owing to his impeccable integrity in performing his duties. Despite a row of private cars of college teachers at that time I solely accompanied him in a three wheeler to his Nanak Nagar residence terribly shaken within to see the selfish attitude of some of us. Later on in an annual day function of Commerce College he was honoured by late Principal Prof. S.P.Sharma. I have seen a very few Principals of his stature in my lifetime. May Almighty grant peace to the departed soul.
Now, a word for the present crop of serving GDCs’ Principals as well as teachers. Most of them are engrossed enthusiastically in purchase related GeM activities at the cost of academic excellence leading to the down grading of educational standards. This situation is grave as many among them are fully devoted to these commercial exercises by planting proxies. Teachers are recruited for teaching and they should voluntarily segregate themselves from these cumbersome process of purchase in Colleges. Sooner the better as in the past scores of GDC’s Principals as well as teachers have earned ignominy owing to these avoidable activities and have brought bad name to a profession considered to be pious.