Established on April 29, 1949, MSU has certainly come a long way from humble beginnings that included all of five faculties. It is among the few institutions in the country today to offer Master's courses in museology or Bachelor's courses in home science and fine arts. There are 13 faculties catering to the educational needs of 35,000 students.

``But'', wonders K A Amin, a former registrar of the university, ``what is the point in expanding the university if the administration cannot handle the situation? The university has not learnt from its past experiences. It still has one of the best staff, but they don't know how to handle the large number of students''.

J Rathod, former dean of the Law faculty, too, finds a lot amiss in the student-teacher relationship today. ``There was a time when university students could approach their teachers with their personal problems. That relationship was quite exemplary'', he says. ``Now, teachers use the students' political connections''.

Along with relationships, equations, too, have changed, feels Rathod. ``Earlier, the heads of departments and faculty deans were more committed to their jobs, as they were permanent positions. Now, the posts are only invitations to unpopularity. No one wants to take them up'', adds Rathod.

Senior professor in the Arts faculty H C Shukul feels there's another angle to that. ``The fact that every problem that crops up on campus is referred to the vice-chancellor shows that department heads and deans cannot handle things in their department'', he says, adding, ``It also reflects on how the perception of the V-C has changed. There was a time when the post commanded respect''.

Officer on Special Duty L J Parekh, who's been associated with MSU for 40 years now, agrees that the institution has gone downhill. ``The university library, for instance, is something to be proud of. But today it is known only for the broken window-panes''.

If one argues that the focus in the university has shifted from education because the ever-increasing student strength has caused standards to fall, Amin retorts that the authorities have always ``had the option of opening colleges and affiliating them''.

Commenting on the disruptive roles students have played of late on campus, Shukul says all that began in the late eighties -- during the time of Prakash Brahmbhatt -- when political parties began to make their presence felt. ``Before that students kept themselves busy with inter-faculty competitions, quizzes, debates... They got the right kind of encouragement for these activities too'', he says. ``That is missing now''.

Parekh, too, believes the party system has led to rowdyism on campus. Amin, however, differs: ``Politics was present earlier as well, but then the authorities had the power to control the students; they didn't need to ask for police protection''.

Interestingly, none of the old guard at MSU believe it is impossible to restore the university to its former glory. ``The university receives the largest UGC research grants in the State'', points out an head officer staffer. And it was the name alone that drew renowned scientist A P J Abul Kalam to Vadodara for an honorary degree.

Amin sums it all up when he says, ``The university has the potential to do better; it just has to learn from experience.'' So that it may teach its students better.