Patna, March 13: Attending an alumni meet of the Patna University geography department, additional director-general of police (headquarters) Rajvardhan Sharma said students these days do not show respect to teachers.

“There seems to be a big generation gap between the teachers and the students these days. Respect for teachers has disappeared,” said the former student who graduated in 1970.

Talking about his time, the ADG said: “When I was a student of Patna University, the principal used to be a role model for the students. Discipline was maintained always and there was no ruckus on the university campus. Police coming to the campus was considered an insult to the university.”

Sharma was among 400 former students of the department who attended the alumni meet on campus.

Citing an example of discipline and strictness in the university, Sharma said: “During my masters, the head of geography department was P. Dayal. Whenever he took rounds of the varsity, there used to be pin-drop silence. Even the junior professors could not have a cup of tea in his presence.”

“I cleared my masters in 1973 but we got the result in 1975 because of the nationwide JP movement. Studies were affected as every one took part in the movement,” Sharma added.

He also said: “We met the then vice-chancellor of Patna University, D.N. Sharma, to request him to conduct the examination on time. However, we got our results only after two years.” He said Dayal had appointed him as lecturer in College of Commerce, Magadh University, in 1976.

Another alumni Arjun Prasad of the 1971 batch, who is the managing director of Bihar State Backward Class Financial and Development Corporation, said: “Lack of discipline and dedication towards study has made the students irresponsible. I still remember the time when I used to stay in Minto hostel. Our study time was 7pm to 8:30pm in winter and 7pm to 9pm in summer. We used to study in our respective rooms.”

Prasad said: “We were not allowed to go outside of the hostel after 9pm but today things have changed. Time and again, we hear about protests and ruckus on the university and hostel premises.

“During our time there, used to be a friendly environment, unlike now. Maybe we had strict parents and we did not have much liberty, which is given to most of the children these days,” he added.

Shiv Kumar, a student of 2001 batch who is now an IAS officer in Goa cadre, said: “Patna University was preferred by our parents. Despite being a science student, my father told me to opt for arts and I took admission in Patna University.”

He said: “At present, there has been big changes in the university. It is supposed to be a model university but it is not. Old students, who no longer study in the varsity, are occupying rooms in the hostel and the genuine students are not getting place to stay.

“The quality of education has deteriorated, forcing students to go to Delhi for the civil service examination preparations,” added Kumar.