Allahabad University ex-reader's dream on scholarships unfulfilled

ALLAHABAD: Even as Allahabad University authorities make tall claims and boast of catering to the welfare of its students, the varsity is yet to decide on scholarships for meritorious students which could have come from an endowment created by an ex-faculty member of the university who donated half of his salary during his entire career for creating the fund.
Former reader in the department of Chemistry, Dr Guru Prasanna Ghose, parted with half of his salary for raising an endowment, interest of which can be used for providing scholarships to students of different departments of AU.
But despite putting efforts all his life and even the Executive Council (EC) of AU approving dispersing these scholarships two decades back (November 23, 1991), this large-hearted elderly breathed his last three years back with the wish that AU authorities will one day start dispersing these scholarships.
But the AU authorities have failed to initiate these scholarships and the endowment is lying unutilized in the State Bank of India, AU branch for the past four decades since its inception. First it was the former faculty, who after retiring from the service, used to correspond with the AU authorities to have the scholarship started and now it his brother's family members who are running from pillar to post only for the sake of deserving students who can get the monetary help from the endowment their uncle had raised.
A former reader of the department of Chemistry, Dr G P Ghose, who retired in 1989 and a bachelor by marital status, proposed to start two scholarships in remembrance of his parents, 'Tarak Nath Ghose' (his father) Memorial Scholarship' for the male students of AU, while 'Saroj Basini Ghose' (his mother) Scholarship was to be given to the female students of AU. Presently, the endowment is worth over Rs 10 lakh, but the same is lying unutilized in the bank.
Dr Ghose had started parting with half of his salary from 1970 for creating an endowment, interest of which was to be used for providing scholarships to 10 students of various departments of AU. From the total endowment, Tarak Nath Ghose Memorial scholarship was proposed to be given to five male students of MSc, MA and MCom students from Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics, Sanskrit and Commerce.
Dr Ghosh had wished that the final year student of PG in Sanskrit should study Vedas. Likewise, five Saroj Basini Ghose scholarships would be awarded to female students, pursuing MSc and MA in Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Philosophy (Study of philosophy in first year and Sankara in final is obligatory) and Sanskrit (those studying Veda in part I and II).
In fact, the AU EC, in its resolution number 196 dated November 23, 1991, had approved starting of these scholarships as well as purchasing books for the delegacy and university library and the books (for UG and PG courses) be labeled as 'gift from Tarak Nath Ghose and Saroj Basini Ghose' and the same be issued to poor students for a period of two years.
But it seems that the saying of 'man proposes god disposes' stands true in Ghosh's case.
The authorities of AU, although having incorporated and approved the issue of starting these scholarships in meetings of its Executive Council, have yet not decided on starting these scholarships which is the last wish of an alumnus who died with the last wish that the scholarships land in deserving hands.
The Dean Student Welfare (DSW), Prof R K Singh while commenting on the issue said, "Indeed such efforts should not go in vain and AU would be addressing the issue on high priority."
"Only some people have the commitment to serve the poor as was in deeds of late G P Ghose as he never bought anything for luxury. He slept on floor, never used electricity, watch, shoes or costly cloths, in fact he prepared his own food mixing various vegetables with pluses, boiled them and consumed just once in a day while having milk in the evening," said Rekha Ghose, daughter-in-law of elder brother of Ghose.
While breathing his last, his only wish and request from us was that we continue with his efforts so that the scholarships see the day's light, she added.
Now it is up to the varsity authorities to fulfill his last wish or just linger on the issue forgetting the sentiments of an elder alumnus making the name of his parents immortal.
In their efforts, Aman Ghose, Dr Ghose's nephew, met the present head of the department of Chemistry, Prof A K Srivastava and requested him to do the needful for starting the scholarship.