Gujarat govt appoints Kamlesh Joshipura as first IITE V-C

Government of Gujarat on Friday appointed former V-C of Saurashtra University Kamlesh Joshipura as the first vice chancellor of Indian Institute of Teachers Education, while Harshad Shah is the first vice chancellor of Children's University.

Joshipura, considered to be a BJP man, has served Saurashtra University as the V-C for two consecutive years, while Shah, 61, has been associated with the Saraswati Shishu Mandir, a group of schools run by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. 

The appointments have succeeded in raising eyebrows as this will be Joshipura's third chance of becoming a V-C as he had already served Saurashtra University for two consecutive terms that ended in August this year.

Joshipura who is also considered to be a BJP man is expected to join office as the VC next week. Talking to DNA he said that he would complete his assignment at the department of law at Saurashtra University. "It is a task of greater responsibility. My focus will be to take the institute to get the national and international recognition. Since it is in an infant stage, we will have to work very hard," he said. 

Seniors in the field of education likens Joshipura's case to V-C of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Manoj Soni. Soni who is considered to be close to Modi and also a RSS backed man was appointed at the Open University after his tenure as VC at MSU got over. The Teachers' University was set up 2 years ago but work on it began last year. It offers two courses, bachelor's degree with BEd and bachelor's degree with Med, in two streams, Art or Science.