Calcutta University on Thursday appointed the Gandhi chair professor and the Vivekananda chair professor.
The syndicate, the university’s decision-making body, appointed Nirban Basu to the Gandhi chair and Rupendra Kumar Chattopadhyay to the Vivekananda chair. Chattopadhyay had in 2015 shifted from Calcutta University to Presidency University as the Paresh Chandra Chatterjee Professor of History.
“He is rejoining Calcutta University. Nirban Basu was once dean of arts at CU. We have got two eminent persons as chair professors,” vice-chancellor Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee said.
The university had in September invited applications for the Vivekananda chair professor’s post from “eminent professors” in social sciences.
In 2018, the university had created the Gandhi chair professor to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the Mahatma.
“Since we were looking for eminent teachers, the selection committee had emphasised credentials like research degrees awarded (PhD/DSc/ DLitt), post-doctoral research... and publications, apart from teaching experience and education qualifications,” a CU official said. “We have appointed those who can provide academic leadership.”
In 2012, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had announced the creation of the Vivekananda chair professor’s post to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, which was observed on January 12, 2013.
The university had invited applications for another chair professor’s post, named after Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, on September 3. The post was created this year to commemorate his 200th birth anniversary, another university official said.
“We are going through the selection process. The appointment will be made soon,” the official said.