Mizoram football fan dies in Silchar

[Editor's Pick]

Mizoram University is a very serious place of education and yet there’s enough ‘F’-food and fun- even for first time visitors, MAWIA CHONGTHU finds out.

Mizoram University

Sprawled across an area of 978.1988 acres, the Mizoram University is the pride of the Mizo people. It signifies the mind and hearts of the people, which strives towards betterment and progress. Ideally nestled in the hills of Tanhril, it was established on 2^nd July, 2001 by the Mizoram University Act, 2000. The present Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A.N Rai, originally from NEHU, is the second acting VC. The Registrar is Mr. Benjamin, IDAS. ‘Greater Deeds Remain’ is the watchword of the University and indeed, it is in the heart of every student, faculty and staff to achieve greater deeds.

The University is an affiliating institute and currently, there are 28 institutes affiliated to it, with Pachhunga University College being a constituent college. When it was first established, the campus was split into two, one being the current campus at Tanhril and the other at Chaltlang, with the University Library located at Chandmari. Construction of the School of Social Sciences and the library was finished in 2008 and all departments have been permanently moved to the main campus.

Back in 2001, the University started with 7 departments inherited from NEHU, but now, there are 28 departments, divided into 7 schools. The 7 schools are:

-          The School of Economics, Management and Information Science (SEMIS).

• -          The School of Education and Humanities.
• -          The School of Social Sciences
• -          The School of Earth Sciences and Natural Resource Management (SES & NRM).
• -          The School of Life Science.
• -          The School of Physical Sciences.
• -          The School of Engineering and Technology.

Each school is administered by a Dean, and all departments that come under the school reports to the Dean. Each department is headed by a Head of Department. Each department is more or less self-administered, deciding the number of students to admit, the course of study, when and how examinations are to be conducted and so on.

A view of Mizoram University library building. Photo: By author

Departments that require a laboratory are stocked with the latest equipments. M. Phil and Ph.D courses are also offered the departments. The annual academic year is divided into two semesters, the first starting in August and the second starting in February. The 1^st and the 3^rd semesters start in August while the 2^nd and 4^th semesters start in February. The number of faculty is 215, with 128 teachers holding Ph.D degrees.

The students who attend the university are the best that the state has to offer, both mentally, and spiritually. The brightest Mizo youths who are keen to achieve higher studies are found within the walls of the University campus, hard at work. There is a general feeling of oneness amongst the student body and although one cannot know everyone who attends the classes, it is a common sight to see an unfamiliar, yet warm smile when inside the campus. Seeing the bright and smart faces, one cannot help but feel that we are blessed with some of the most intelligent and ambitious youths in the country. And we are. Key to the university activity is the Student Union which makes sure that all students are united towards a common goal of development and progress. It is from these activities that hidden talents are found – be it music, literature, creativity, leadership or entertainment. And this is not just within the Mizo student population. This feeling extends to the students from other states as well, who make up a good part of the student body, students from Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Bihar.

The University is still relatively young, yet, it is a quite well-established institute. Facilities include a fleet of buses that transport students and staff alike to and from the campus to Aizawl, which is about 30 minutes away. Another prominent facility is the University library, which is the biggest in the state. It houses over 60,000 volumes and has an integrated computer system that lets you find any book. There is also a Computer Centre where students, staff and visitors alike can access the internet and the campus intranet. There is also a health centre, an amphitheatre, a sports facility, four canteens spread across the campus and five hostels, two for girls and three for boys. The University auditorium has just been completed, and the Guest Quarters and the School of Earth Sciences and Natural Resource Management department is almost completed.

Anyone who has been to the University will tell you that it is a very serious place of education. Seminars are held on a regular basis, for both students and teachers, the library is never empty during office hours, and the canteen never has enough food. Yet, there is an air of welcome that one will feel, even if one is visiting the campus for the first time. This is a place for the ambitious and the brilliant to realize their full potential. The future the education in Mizoram is very bright, with so much more dreams to be realized and fulfilled.

Indeed, Greater Deeds Remain.