Patna University vice-chancellor Arun Kumar Sinha and (right) former Sikkim Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh at the institution’s foundation day programme in Patna on Tuesday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Old-timers recalled the glorious past of Patna University and expressed regret over the current state of affairs at the institution on its 96th foundation day on Tuesday.

A retired teacher, who was felicitated at the foundation day programme, said: “There used to be a time when students from Patna University dominated civil service examination as well as IIT, medical and banking entrances. Now, very few students from Patna University clear the civil service examinations.”

The list of illustrious alumni of the university include Muchukund Dubey (former foreign secretary), Anjani Kumar Singh (principal secretary to the chief minister), Amir Subhani (principal home secretary), Rajyavardhan Sharma (retired IPS officer), Janak Pandey (vice-chancellor of Central University of Bihar) and Abhimanyu Singh (former chairman of the board of revenue).

The decline in the fortunes of the university occupied the minds of the other retired teachers as well.

Sharfe Alam, a retired Persian teacher who, too, was felicitated said: “Three factors are responsible for the decline in the standards at PU — admission of poor students, dishonest teachers and political interference.” Alam is a recipient of Padma Shri and former vice-chancellor of Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic and Persian University, Patna.

Students and teachers were also upset with varsity doing away with the process of felicitating toppers at the foundation day programme.