Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​Ceremonial heads: On Governors

​Ceremonial heads: On Governors

Governors as chancellors (कुलाधिपति) do more harm than good in universities

The Supreme Court of India’s strong censure (निंदा, कटु आलोचना) of Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi in April seems (प्रतीत होना, लगना) to have done little to slow down (धीमा करना, कम करना) the collision course that many Governors have been on with the respective State governments. Not only did the Court rule against the Governor casting a de-facto (वास्तविक) veto on 10 Bills relating (से संबंधित, के विषय में) to universities passed by the State legislature (विधायिका) but it also specified timelines for the Governor’s response to Bills. Importantly, it declared infructuous (निष्फल, व्यर्थ) any Presidential intervention (हस्तक्षेप, दखलअंदाज़ी) based on the Governor’s recommendation. Last week, Mr. Ravi had referred (संदर्भित करना, प्रेषित करना, भेजना) the Kalaignar University Bill (the Bill proposes the establishment of Kalaignar University in Kumbakonam by bifurcating Bharathidasan University, aiming to cater to the higher education needs of students in Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, and Tiruvarur districts) to the President instead of giving it his assent (स्वीकृति, अनुमोदन). In Kerala, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has kicked off (प्रारंभ करना, शुरू करना) yet another controversy after directing State-run (राज्य-नियंत्रित) universities to observe (participate in, be present in, celebrate, remember) a ‘Partition horrors day’ on August 14, 2025, drawing (evoke, suggest (a specified reaction); attract) criticism about possible ideological and communal motives. His predecessor (previous holder of the post/position/job), Arif Mohammed Khan, had also locked horns with the government, sitting on and practically vetoing (reject, dismiss, deny, turn down, say no to, rule out, quash) Bills especially relating to universities. The Court’s line (direction, position, stance, course of action) has been de-facto challenged by the President, but through a reference (direction, referral).

State-owned universities have become the key battlegrounds in the Governor-State government conflicts (dispute, quarrel, tussle, wrangle, disagreement, contention, strife, friction, discord). They are among the few institutions over which the Governor has a direct say (authority, influence, clout, sway, weight, voice). As scholars (academic, intellectual, learned person, expert) point out, the office of the Governor was a colonial mechanism (method, system, process, procedure, technique) of control over provinces (territory, region, state) that may be ruled by Indian parties. That the universities had British Governors as their ceremonial (औपचारिक) heads, or rather Chancellors, was to bring colonial prestige (status, reputation) and ensure their autonomy (independence, freedom (from external control/influence); self-determination) and importance. India’s early national-level leaders retained the Governor as a central appointee (one who is appointed to a job/position; representative, delegate, office holder) to guard against (protect, defend, safeguard, shield) separatist (factional, partisan, sectarian, fanatical, extreme; extremist, radical) tendencies. It appears that legislation (law, decree, statute, rule, ordinance, act) in many States retained the role of Governors as Chancellors of State-run universities to give them the same colonial veneer ((outward) impression, image, posture) and aura (atmosphere, quality, aspect, character, feeling/mood, spirit). Even a Tamil Nadu Bill that had sought to minimise the Governor’s role in Vice-Chancellor appointments did not seek to remove the Governor as Chancellor of the university. In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the Governors are central proxies (representative; deputy, substitute. (proxy war means war through a representative/agent)) with a hostile (aggressive, combative, confrontational, attacking, belligerent) political and ideological agenda. Meanwhile, draft UGC regulations (rule, ruling, order, Act, statute, ordinance) seek to divest (dispossess, strip of, deprive of, deny, do out of, prevent from having) State governments of their role in the selection of the Vice-Chancellor, vesting all powers in the Chancellor. But the thrust (meaning, intention, essence, signification, significance) of the National Education Policy (The National Education Policy, 2020 proposes the revision and revamping of all aspects of the education structure, including its regulation and governance, to create a new system that is aligned with the aspirational goals of 21st century education, including Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), while building upon India’s traditions and value systems) 2020 has been towards greater autonomy for educational institutions. Universities are expected to raise funds and be accountable (responsible, liable, answerable) for spending. A university head’s role is expected to be not just academic and administrative but also that of a business manager, cheerleader (an ardent supporter of someone) and fundraiser. It may make sense (be accepted, be convincing, hold up, prove true) to have professionals become the ceremonial as well as executive heads of universities, replacing Governors.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.ceremonial (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - औपचारिक
English Meaning - titular, nominal.

2.Chancellor (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कुलाधिपति
English Meaning - The chancellor is titular head of a state university. In almost all states, the Governor serves as ex-officio chancellor, and in this capacity appoints vice-chancellors of state universities and presides over convocation ceremonies, among other responsibilities. (As per the provisions of the Act of the concerned University, the Governor appoints the Vice Chancellor on the advice/in consultation with the State Government).

3.censure (noun)

Hindi Meaning - निंदा, कटु आलोचना
English Meaning - strong criticism, condemnation, disapproval, flak, castigation, lambasting, denunciation.

4.seem (verb)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतीत होना, लगना
English Meaning - appear, look, sound.

5.slow down (phrasal verb)

Hindi Meaning - धीमा करना, कम करना
English Meaning - reduce, decrease, lessen.

6.on a collision course (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - टकराव की स्थिति में
English Meaning - having an approach that is likely to cause conflict with another.

7.state-run (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - राज्य-नियंत्रित
English Meaning - state-owned, government-owned.

8.de-facto (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - वास्तविक
English Meaning - Latin, literally ‘of fact’; effective, actual, existing.

9.relating (preposition)

Hindi Meaning - से संबंधित, के विषय में
English Meaning - about, regarding, on the subject of, concerning, with regard to, with reference to.

10.legislature (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विधायिका
English Meaning - law-making body or governing body; parliament, congress, council, assembly.

11.infructuous (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - निष्फल, व्यर्थ
English Meaning - pointless or unnecessary.

12.intervention (noun)

Hindi Meaning - हस्तक्षेप, दखलअंदाज़ी
English Meaning - the process of intervening in something; involvement, interference.

13.refer (verb)

Hindi Meaning - संदर्भित करना, प्रेषित करना, भेजना
English Meaning - pass a matter to (a higher body) for a decision.

14.assent (noun)

Hindi Meaning - स्वीकृति, अनुमोदन
English Meaning - approval, agreement, acceptance, consent, concurrence.

15.kick off (phrasal verb)

Hindi Meaning - प्रारंभ करना, शुरू करना
English Meaning - start, begin, initiate.

16.cast (verb)

English Meaning - give, direct, assign.

17.Head of State (noun)

English Meaning - gubernatorial leader, governor.

18.Vice-Chancellor (VC) (noun)

English Meaning - The Vice-Chancellor is the academic and executive head of the University. The Vice-Chancellor provides both academic and administrative leadership. The Vice-Chancellor is appointed by the Chancellor on the recommendation of the Government.

19.Pro Chancellor (noun)

English Meaning - Deputy Vice-chancellor.

20.veto (noun)

English Meaning - a right/power to reject a decision/proposal; rejection, dismissal, denial, ban, prohibition.

21.Bill (noun)

English Meaning - A Bill is a draft statute that becomes law after it is passed. All legislative proposals are brought before Parliament in the forms of Bills (or) draft statute/law, proposed legislation, proposal (presented to parliament/congress/council for discussion).

22.the legislature (noun)

English Meaning - the House; a deliberative body of persons, usually elective, who are empowered to make, change, or repeal the laws of a country or state. India follows a bicameral (two chambers/parts) system at both the centre and state level.

23.Kalaignar University Bill (noun)

English Meaning - the Bill proposes the establishment of Kalaignar University in Kumbakonam by bifurcating Bharathidasan University, aiming to cater to the higher education needs of students in Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, and Tiruvarur districts.

24.observe (verb)

English Meaning - participate in, be present in, celebrate, remember.

25.draw (verb)

English Meaning - evoke, suggest (a specified reaction); attract.

26.predecessor (noun)

English Meaning - previous holder of the post/position/job.

27.lock horns with (phrase)

English Meaning - engage in conflict/fight/contest; have a dispute, quarrel, disagree, argue.

28.sit on (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - delay, withhold, suppress, restrain, curtail.

29.veto (verb)

English Meaning - reject, dismiss, deny, turn down, say no to, rule out, quash.

30.line (noun)

English Meaning - direction, position, stance, course of action.

31.reference (noun)

English Meaning - direction, referral.

32.conflict (noun)

English Meaning - dispute, quarrel, tussle, wrangle, disagreement, contention, strife, friction, discord.

33.say (noun)

English Meaning - authority, influence, clout, sway, weight, voice.

34.scholar (noun)

English Meaning - academic, intellectual, learned person, expert.

35.point out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - identify, draw attention to, indicate, specify, mention.

36.mechanism (noun)

English Meaning - method, system, process, procedure, technique.

37.province (noun)

English Meaning - territory, region, state.

38.prestige (noun)

English Meaning - status, reputation.

39.autonomy (noun)

English Meaning - independence, freedom (from external control/influence); self-determination.

40.appointee (noun)

English Meaning - one who is appointed to a job/position; representative, delegate, office holder.

41.guard against (verb)

English Meaning - protect, defend, safeguard, shield.

42.separatist (adjective)

English Meaning - factional, partisan, sectarian, fanatical, extreme; extremist, radical.

43.legislation (noun)

English Meaning - law, decree, statute, rule, ordinance, act.

44.veneer (noun)

English Meaning - (outward) impression, image, posture.

45.aura (noun)

English Meaning - atmosphere, quality, aspect, character, feeling/mood, spirit.

46.sought past tense of seek (verb)

English Meaning - try, aim, attempt.

47.proxy (noun)

English Meaning - representative; deputy, substitute. (proxy war means war through a representative/agent).

48.hostile (adjective)

English Meaning - aggressive, combative, confrontational, attacking, belligerent.

49.draft (noun as modifier)

English Meaning - a preliminary version; outline.

50.Draft UGC Regulations, 2025 (noun)

English Meaning - it deals with “Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education”.

51.University Grants Commission (UGC) (noun)

English Meaning - The University Grants Commission (UGC) came into existence on 28th December, 1953 and became a statutory Organization of the Government of India by an Act of Parliament in 1956, for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of teaching, examination and research in university education.

52.regulation (noun)

English Meaning - rule, ruling, order, Act, statute, ordinance.

53.divest (verb)

English Meaning - dispossess, strip of, deprive of, deny, do out of, prevent from having.

54.vest in (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - (of (power, authority and etc.) entrust to, invest in, bestow on, confer on, grant to, give to.

55.thrust (noun)

English Meaning - meaning, intention, essence, signification, significance.

56.National Education Policy (NEP) (noun)

English Meaning - The National Education Policy, 2020 proposes the revision and revamping of all aspects of the education structure, including its regulation and governance, to create a new system that is aligned with the aspirational goals of 21st century education, including Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), while building upon India’s traditions and value systems.

57.accountable (adjective)

English Meaning - responsible, liable, answerable.

58.cheerleader (noun)

English Meaning - an ardent supporter of someone.

59.make sense (phrase)

English Meaning - be accepted, be convincing, hold up, prove true.