The new vice-chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia may have his share of critics who resent bureaucrats taking over academic positions, but IAS-turned-energy economist Najeeb Jung is not letting that get to him. Instead, he’s concentrating on his plans for the university — and he has several.

One from the original class of the legendary K Rau (of Rau’s Study Circle fame that civil service aspirants swear by), he is very grateful to his “guru and mentor” for the coaching and support which ensured that the entire batch of 20 students that year — 1972 — “made it, and they are all part of the establishment somewhere today”.

Inspired by the model of Rau’s Study Circle, Jung wants to turn the coaching centre for civil services at Jamia Millia into a top-class unit. He wants it “to set targets of at least 10 students who make it each year”.

Besides being a bureaucrat, Jung has also served with the Asian Development Bank and done a stint with Reliance before pursuing a doctorate in Energy Economics at Oxford University. Now at Jamia, Jung is spending his first few days meeting students, visiting hostels and getting a feel of the 90-year-old university. He is not in a hurry, he says, nor is he keen to reverse his predecessor Mushir-ul-Hasan’s projects.

But would he consider renaming the Arjun Singh Road? “No. There are several buildings here with different names. It has happened and why would I want to fiddle with it or change it?” he says.

... contd.