Having made a humble estimate of the illustrious life and personality of Dr. Mathur in the first section of this write-up, I would now venture to highlight his achievements as the Vice-Chancellor of Agra University for full two terms. A separate section devoted to this phase of his life is justified on the ground that lakhs of people outside his religious sect came into contact with him in his capacity as the Vice-Chancellor. Moreover his achievements in this capacity were so commendable and of permanent value that they need to be dwelt upon in a separate section in detail.

When Dr. A.P. Mathur assumed office as Vice-Chancellor of Agra University for the second term in April 1988, a prestigious Daily newspaper commented: 'A Historian makes history'. Indeed, Dr. A.P. Mathur, the historian, made history by holding the reins of the university as Vice-Chancellor for the second term. No Vice-Chancellor of Agra University before him had occupied this apex position for two full terms.

The University took long strides on the path of all-round development and progress during the tenure of Dr. Mathur as Vice-Chancellor. The record of developments and achievements on all fronts - academic, administrative, financial, residential and affiliating wings, opening of new vocational courses and regularization of academic session,co-curricular and cultural activities, and games and sports - was unprecedented. A brief and systematic account of Dr. Mathur's achievements is given here under.

Academic Excellence

The primary function of a University is to promote and establish academic excellence. Dr. Mathur directed all his efforts towards this end from the very beginning of his first term of appointment. Dr. Mathur had the high aspiration that Agra University becomes a real temple of learning, that it is known for its academic excellence and the intellectual and moral quality of its alumni, that it is able to produce students possessing a balanced personality and a well-trained mind, fully-equipped with knowledge and training to meet the growing needs of the society in the emerging areas of human activity and interest. These objectives necessitated the establishment of a full-fledged residential wing of the University. Till then the residential wing of the university consisted of three Institutes only, viz.

(1) K.M. Institute of Hindi and Linguistics,

(2) The Institute of Social Sciences, and

(3) The Institute of Home Science.

But these Institutes had not been functioning as efficiently as they should have been. Dr. Mathur first made concerted efforts to streamline these Institutes. But it was soon realized that a few more Institutes were urgently needed. Consequently, efforts were set a foot to establish an Institute of Basic Sciences and an Institute of Vocational Studies. These Institutes were subsequently established.

The Institute of Basic Sciences had five P.G. Departments, viz. Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, and Mathematics. Each of these Departments started with three major courses - M.Sc, M.Phil., and Ph.D. The syllabi for M.Sc. in different subjects were different from and more advanced than the courses in force in the affiliated colleges. Some new courses were also introduced such as Clinical Chemistry, Nuclear Physics, Computer Application and System Analysis, and Social Forestry. Steps were also taken to develop the Department of History into a full-fledged Institute of Indian History and Culture. The University also set up an independent department of Library Science and Manuscriptology.

Thus the University developed a comprehensive and multi-dimensional Residential Wing which brought the University at par with the prestigious residential Universities of the State.

Job-Oriented Courses

Dr. Mathur also envisaged that mere academic or theoretical education would not equip the students with necessary training to meet the needs and demands of practical life. As such he set up a number of job-oriented one-year P.G. Diploma courses which opened numerous avenues for jobs and self-employment. The more important of these job-oriented courses were: Hotel Management and Tourism, Diploma in Business Management, Computer Programming both in English and Hindi, Diploma in Physical Education, and Diploma in Adult and Continuing Education etc.

Proposals for the Seventh Five-Year Plan

It was also during Dr. Mathur's first term in office as Vice-Chancellor that the government invited proposals from the Universities for the Seventh Five -Year Plan. Under the guidance and patronage of Dr. Mathur, the University prepared and submitted the following proposals for the strengthening of the Residential Wing of the University. The present and future programming of the University Departments were submitted as given below:

1. Department of History

Present Programmes Ph.D. and D.Litt M.Phil. Diploma in Tourism.

Future Programmes M.A. (History) Advanced Course (to be added) Diploma/Degree in Journalism and Mass Media. Diploma in Archaeology. Diploma in Fine Arts. Diploma in Women's Studies and Social Welfare.

2. Department of Physics

Present Programmes Ph.D./ D.Sc. M.Phil.

Future Programmes M.Sc. (Applied Physics) (to be added) M.Sc. (Electronics) M.Sc. (Computer Science) Diploma in Electronics and Instrumentation. Diploma in Computer Science and Digital Electronics. Diploma in Radiation Physics.

3. Department of Chemistry

Present Programmes Ph.D./ D.Sc. M.Phil.

Future Programmes M.Sc. (Environmental Chemistry) (to be added) B. Pharmacy Diploma in Clinical Chemistry. Diploma in Pharmacy. Diploma in Glass and Ceramics. Diploma in Petro-Chemicals. Diploma in Leather Finishing, Paints & Varnishes. Diploma in Drug Chemistry.

4. Department of Mathematics

Present Programmes Ph.D./ D.Sc. M.Phil.

Future Programmes M.A/M.Sc. (Computer Applications) (to be added) M.A/M.Sc. (Applied Mathematics) M.A/M.Sc. (Operations Research) Diploma in Program and Decision Sciences. Diploma in Meteorological Forecasting.

5. Department of Zoology

Present Programmes Ph.D./ D.Sc. M.Phil.

Future Programmes M.Sc. (Applied Zoology) with (to be added) specialization in Environmental Zoology.

Diploma in Modern Lab.Techniques and clinical Pathology. Diploma in Pathology and Biochemical Techniques.

6. Department of Library Science

Present Programme B.Lib. Science.

Future Programme Diploma in Library Science, Archives (to be added) and Museology.

7. Institute of Social Sciences

(i) Department of Economics M.Phil. & Ph.D.

(ii) Department of Political M.Phil. & Ph.D. Science

(iii) Department of Sociology M.Phil. [already conducting Ph.D. and M.A. (Alternative Course)]

(iv) Department of Social Work M.Phil. (already conducting Master of Social Work and Ph.D. Programmes)

(v) Department of Statistics M.Phil. (stat.) & conducting M.Stat. and Ph.D. Diploma in Computer Programmes in Statistics) Programming.

8. K.M. Institute of Hindi Studies & Linguistics

(1) Department of Modern Indian M.A.(Urdu) (facilities to teach Languages (already conducting Urdu for M.A. Ph.D., M.Phil. and M.A. Hindi Degree do not exist in Language & Literature courses any affiliated college); & Diploma courses for M.Phil.(Urdu); Proficiency in various Regional Ph.D. (Urdu) Languages, viz. Gujarati etc.)

(2) Department of Oriental M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Sanskrit. Classical Languages

(3) Department of European M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Languages (already conducting English and a few diploma Diploma/Certificate courses courses. in Russian, French, German)

(4) Department of Linguistics Diploma in Speech Therapy. (already conducting Ph.D., M.Phil. and M.A. Linguistics)

9. The Institute of Home Science

The Institute of Home Science has been conducting Home Science courses for B.A., B.Sc., M.A., and M.Sc. degrees - each of two years' duration divided into four semesters. From the current session, the University has introduced a 3-year B.Sc. Specialised Courses as also M.Sc. Specialised courses in various fields, e.g. Child Development, Foods and Nutrition etc. Besides, the Institute's activities have been extended, to the conducting and guiding of research in various areas of Home Science, e.g. Child Development, Food & Nutrition, etc.

10. Department of Adult and Continuing Education and Extension

National Adult Education Programme had been in force in the University for a number of years, but it did not prove very effective. This has now been streamlined and expanded, and the Department of Adult and Continuing Education and Extension has been established to conduct the three-phased programme under the scheme sponsored by the University Grants Commission under Point No.16 of the New 20-Point Programme of the Hon'ble Prime Minister. The Department has set up 340 centres of Adult and Continuing Education within the territorial jurisdiction of the University.

The scheme aims at planning, involvement of students and teachers effectively in the eradication of illiteracy; providing special attention towards programmes for women, scheduled castes/tribes, the handicapped and people from the rural, backward and slum areas; relating the programmes directly to the needs, interests, aspirations and life-situations of the learners and to the national goals of socio-economic development through a process of operational linkages with the development programmes; helping in the acquisition of basic literacy skills, effective post-literacy follow up and continuing education, so as to bring the learners in the ambit of life-long learning process.

The ultimate goal is to bring about a transformation of society through a change of attitude and through imparting training to working people.

11. Coaching Centres for Competitive Examinations

Agra was conspicuously lacking in providing effective coaching to the candidates for competitive examinations. This is why only a small percentage of candidates for competitive examinations from Agra Region got into Central and State Administrative and Allied Services. Considering this fact, the University has introduced the system of setting-up coaching classes for various categories of candidates. The centres already functioning and the competitive examinations covered by them are detailed below :

(1) Coaching Centre for weaker

(i) I.A.S. and Allied Services sections amongst Minorities Competitive Examination (Under the scheme sponsored
(ii) State Administrative Services by the Ministry of Education Competitive Exam. through U.G.C., New Delhi, (Executive/Judicial). under Point No.11 of the 15-
(iii) Banking Service Competitive Point Programme of the Govt. Examinations. of India)
(iv) C.P.M.T.
(v) Entrance Test for admission to Engg. Colleges.

(2) Coaching Centre for

(i) P.C.S. (Executive/Judicial) Scheduled Castes/Tribes Service Competitive Exam. (Under the scheme sponsored
(ii) Banking Service Competitive by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Exam. Govt. of India, under Point No. Note: 7 of the New 20-Point pro- The Ministry's scheme does not gramme of Govt.of India) provide for coaching for I.A.S. Competitive Exam.

(3) Coaching Centre for Central All competitive examination Category of Candidates covered by the Coaching centre (Under the University's own for Minorities. scheme)

12. Special Cell for Scheduled Castes/Tribes

It is also praiseworthy that Dr. Mathur was able to obtain sanction and financial help from the U.G.C. and the Central Government for establishing a Special Cell for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to help and guide them and to redress all their problems relating to their admissions, reservations, scholarships, financial assistance and training and employment. This cell is proving a boon to the candidates of these castes and tribes and is yielding the desired results.

The Affiliating Wing

The Affiliating wing of the University was given equal consideration by Dr. Mathur. There are 49 Colleges affiliated to the University and they are spread all over the Agra region, and the Homeopathic Medical Colleges affiliated to it are spread all over the State. These Colleges face numerous problems - some problems being common to all, some being individual problems. As such, an urgent need was felt for setting up a central coordinating body to organise and co-ordinate the activities of the affiliating Colleges.

The College Development Council

To meet this problem Dr. Mathur approached the U.G.C. to set up a College Development Council in the University. Consequently, the U.G.C. approved the setting up of such a Council under a whole-time Director. The objective of this Council was to facilitate and help the affiliated Colleges in the framing and approval of their various developmental plans and schemes. This Council functions as a link between the Colleges, the Residential Wing of the University, the U.G.C. and the State Government. This Council greatly helped the Colleges under the COHIPS, COSHIPS, Faculty Improvement Programme and several other schemes sponsored by the U.G.C. and the State and Central Government. This was a unique achievement of Dr. Mathur as the Vice-Chancellor.

Academic Environment and Regularisation of the Session

The most important contribution of Dr. Mathur as Vice-Chancellor, however, was the creation of peaceful academic environment in the University and affiliated Colleges, implementation of the academic calendar and regularisation of the academic session. The academic sessions prior to Dr. Mathur taking over as Vice-Chancellor were lamentably disturbed and delayed. The sessions started late in November or even December. Dr. Mathur resolved to regularize the sessions at any cost because without regular and undisturbed sessions, no proper academic environment could be created.

Through slow and persistent efforts the desired goal was achieved with the result that the session 1983-84 started in August 1983, 1984-85 started in the third week of July 1984, and the session 1985-86 started on July 8, 1985. This was indeed a great achievement, though this could not be maintained after Dr. Mathur's first term in office ending in October 1985.

The Interim Period

The interim period of a little more than three years between Dr. Mathur's two terms in office as Vice-Chancellor was a period of lull and retrogression. Many of the steps, academic as well as administrative, taken by Dr. Mathur had either been withdrawn or crippled by his successors in the interim period. The University had gone back by decades.

Back on the Track

Dr. Mathur assumed office as Vice-Chancellor for the second term on the 28th April, 1988. The first task that he applied himself to was to bring the University back on the track and to restore normalcy. Having done preliminary work, he again undertook a number of projects to promote the academic and administrative tone and environment in the University.

Institute of Vocational Studies

Dr. Mathur gave top priority to stream-lining and further expanding the job-oriented P.G. Diploma courses. For this purpose he approached the U.G.C. and the State Government to set up a full-fledged Institute of Vocational Studies. Without waiting for their approval which normally takes time, Dr. Mathur set up the Institute with the approval of the Executive Council. Detailed Ordinances and syllabi in consultation with the experts in each field were framed and implemented. The following P.G. Diploma or Degree Courses were started under this Institute:

1. Hotel and Tourism Management

2. Archives and Museology

3. Electronics

4. Clinical Chemistry

5. Computer Programming & Decision Sciences

6. Social Forestry and Environment

7. Business Management

8. Accountancy

9. Administrative and Official Hindi

10. Translation

11. Journalism

12. Adult and Continuing Education (Certificate Course)

13. Adult and Continuing Education (Diploma Course)

14. Continuing Education and Extension

15. B.Lib Science and Manuscriptology

16. B.P.Ed.

All these were self-financing courses. Admissions were given to these courses on the basis of written competitive Test and Interview. These courses proved highly popular and the candidates holding these diplomas were well received by various employment agencies.

In order to further expand and popularize these courses, the affiliated colleges were also permitted to open these courses on the condition that they fulfilled the prescribed terms and conditions. Several important colleges opened some of these courses.

Three-Year Degree Courses

The U.G.C. had recommended three-year Degree Courses for all Universities in the country several years earlier. Most of the Universities had adopted the three-year system, but Agra University had not been able to adopt it. The result was that several Universities and Service Commissions refused to accept our Degrees. Dr. Mathur took immediate steps to adopt three-year Degree Courses in all Faculties. The University also started awarding Honours Degrees. In order to tone up the academic standards, the system of admission through competitive examination and interview was adopted for all job-oriented courses, B.Ed., B.Lib. Science, LL.B. and all courses in the Faculties of Science and Commerce.

For the same end in view, unit system in the syllabi and examination Papers was also adopted. All these measures went a long way in raising the academic standards of the University.

Research

A University is primarily known by the quality of its research work. Dr. Mathur made admirable efforts to promote research both in quality and quantity. He revised and updated the Statutes and Ordinances relating to research, giving special attention to Comparative and Inter-Disciplinary research. In the Faculties of Science, Mathematics, Medicine, Psychology, Sociology etc. he encouraged and promoted research of practical value and utility.

Financial Stability

Financial constraints stand in the way of development of every educational institution. Every University in Uttar Pradesh is facing financial crisis and deficit. The deficit of Agra University had accumulated to about Rs. 1.20 crores when Dr. Mathur assumed office.

He made all out efforts to secure grants and financial aid from all sources - the State Government, the Central Government and the U.G.C. He also generated finances from several self-financing courses with the result that before he laid down the reins he completely made up the deficit of Rs. 1.20 corers and also left a surplus of Rs. 20 lakhs. This was a great achievement through such a grave financial crisis.