Patna : A university that once shaped the intellectual, academic and political life of Bihar crossed a historic milestone on Thursday—but without the ceremony that normally marks such an occasion.




Patna University (PU), the seventh-oldest university in the Indian subcontinent and Bihar’s first, completed 109 years and entered its 110th year on Oct 1. Yet the campus remained without the foundation day lecture, ceremonial function, gold medal distribution for toppers, or other traditional events associated with the occasion.




A senior PU official told TOI that Thursday’s programme could not be held because vice-chancellor Ajay Kumar Singh was scheduled to attend a meeting convened by the chancellor at Lok Bhawan . The official said the celebrations would be held later.




The low-key observance drew disappointment from alumni , teachers, students and non-teaching staff, who said the foundation day is a key occasion to reconnect the university community with PU’s history and academic traditions.




Former dean of social sciences Nawal Kishore Chaudhary criticised what he called an apathetic approach by the authorities. “The foundation day should be celebrated on the scheduled date,” he said.




The absence of celebrations was noted more sharply in light of past practice, when foundation day functions routinely included formal lectures by eminent guests and felicitation of undergraduate toppers with gold medals .




The university also did not hold a Teachers’ Day programme on Sept 5 this year, which had previously been observed annually.




Established by the Patna University Act, which came into force on Oct 1, 1917, the university initially served as an affiliating and examining authority over a vast educational territory covering Bihar, Odisha and Nepal. It became a teaching-cum-residential university in 1952.