The Institute of Mathematics and Applications (IMA) will lose its identity if an overzealous Odisha Government goes ahead with its plans to merge it with the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata. Going by sources, the State Government has already agreed in principle for the merger.
A proposal to this effect has also been put in place which says that the Government “agrees in principle to the proposal of merger of IMA with ISI, Kolkata.” The governing body of IMA, which met earlier this week has given it a go ahead too, triggering shock and resentment among the mathematics fraternity of the State.
An ISI team is here to discuss intricate issues about the merger. Since IMA was formed as a registered society, any merger would necessitate its dissolution first.
In fact, if IMA merges with ISI, the latter will get for free 25-acre campus and a building designed by renowned architect Karan Grover apart from other amenities. What will be uncertain is the yeoman service IMA gave to Odisha and its rural hinterland by nurturing mathematics temper among youth.
What has shocked many is that the plan was never discussed with IMA governing body. Orissa Mathematical Society (OMS), which was instrumental in the establishment of IMA, has been vocal in its opposition to the move saying that the State institute will lose its uniqueness.
“ISI is a nationally reputed institute but IMA is unique too. State Government should find ways to sustain and develop it without falling into the lure of getting another national institute in Bhubaneswar,” sources said.
OMS held an executive body meeting after learning about the merger plans and also convened its general body recently where the members expressed deep concern and voiced their apprehension about the stealthy manner in which it was being done.
After a discussion, OMS general body passed a resolution urging that IMA at best could be made an associate institute of ISI but before that the proposal must be passed in the governing body and services of staff be protected. If ISI wants to set up a centre or campus in the City, it could use IMA’s infrastructure until a permanent establishment is created, it felt.
OMS president Prof Chandra Kishore Mohapatra said: “NISER operates from Institute of Physics and IIT Bhubaneswar also runs from such IIT Kharagpur campus. Why can’t ISI?”