4 Months of Mr. Mazhar Asif: The New Jamia VC’s Track-Record
Ibne Waqar | 23 February 2024 | The Companion
Jamia Millia Islamia, a prominent central university with a distinct Muslim character, is facing a critical juncture. Struggling under the governmental crackdown, the university’s autonomy and future are in question after the recent appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor, just four months ago. The new Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Mazhar Asif, originally from Bihar and a former professor of Persian language at JNU, has been alleged to have exacerbated the concerns of the minority institution. Critics as well as student leaders allege that the VC acts as a puppet of the central government, employing dictatorial tactics that have brought the university to its knees. This perceived control from the center raises fears about the erosion of JMI’s unique identity and its ability to function as an independent institution.