The services of G Parthasarathy as the first Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University were recalled in a panel discussion held as part of the centenary celebrations of the late diplomat.
The panelists spoke about his gentle and consensual manner of dealing manner of dealing with problems of JNU involving students, faculty and the administration.
His emphasis on an interdisciplinary approach in the drawing up of curriculum was far ahead of his time, said Ashok Parthasarathy, son of G Parthasarathy, and a former Scientific Advisor to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, during the discussion.
GP's admission policy for students gave priority to those from economically and socially weaker sections such as adivasis and dalits. He made JNU the first university to have students as members of the Academic Council, Ashok said.
He also recalled how GP contacted Indian scholars elsewhere in the world and persuaded them to come back to India and join the faculty of the newly-established university.
CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat, noted historian Romila Thapar and Chairman of Indian Council of Social Science Research Sukhdev Thorat spoke about GP's contribution to the University.
Other panelists included educationists Nirija Gopal Jayal and Prabhat Patnaik.
