Dinesh Singh (academic)

Dinesh Singh
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delhi
In office
29 October 2010 – 2015
Preceded byDeepak Pantal
Succeeded byYogesh Kumar Tyagi
Personal details
Alma materSt. Stephen's College
Imperial College London
AwardsPadma Shri (2014)

Professor Dinesh Singh, chancellor K.R. Mangalam University is an Indian professor of mathematics. He served as the 21st Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delhi,[1] is a distinguished fellow of Hackspace at Imperial College London, and has been an adjunct professor of Mathematics at the University of Houston.[2] For his services to the nation he was conferred with the Padma Shri which is the fourth highest civilian award awarded by the Republic of India.[3][4]

Early life and background

Singh was born to Professor Udita Narayana Singh, former vice-chancellor of the University of Allahabad and pro vice-chancellor of the University of Delhi.[5][6]

Singh earned his B.Sc. Hons (Maths) in 1975 and M.A. (Maths) in 1977 from St. Stephen's College, followed by M.Phil (Maths) in 1978 from the University of Delhi. He did a PhD in Math from Imperial College London in 1981.[7][8] He holds numerous honorary doctorates some of them being awarded by University of Edinburgh, National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, University College Cork, Ireland,[8] and University of Houston.[9]

Career

Singh started his career as lecturer at St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, in 1981. Thereafter he joined the Department of Mathematics, University of Delhi, in 1987. He was head of the Department of Mathematics at the University of Delhi from December 2004 to September 2005. He served the University of Delhi as a director, South Campus from 2005-2010. He officiated briefly as pro vice chancellor, University of Delhi, before being appointed vice chancellor on 29 October 2010.[8] His area of specialization includes functional analysis, operator theory, and harmonic analysis.[8] He is an adjunct professor at the University of Houston and has also taught at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Indian Statistical Institute, Delhi. He is a recipient of Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour awarded by the Republic of India.[3][4] He is noted for being instrumental in setting up of Cluster Innovation Centre at University of Delhi, an inter-disciplinary, first of its kind research center particularly promoting undergraduate research. He also popularized the concept of innovation as credit.

Awards and distinctions

Controversies

Singh's tenure was marked by frequent friction with the Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF) controlled Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA). Critics, including DUTA leadership and college principals, described his administration as "feudal" and "autocratic," citing a lack of consultation in decision-making.[10][11][12][13][14]

DUTA released a 'White Paper' alleging financial irregularities, specifically regarding the diversion of funds intended for OBC students for purchase of laptops or flagging off 'Gyanodaya Express’.[15] The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) issued a show-cause notice regarding these charges, which Singh contested. While the government ultimately decided not to process his reply due to his tenure ending, the MHRD later attempted to place Singh on "forced leave" weeks before his term expired.[16][17] The Visitor (President Pranab Mukherjee) reportedly intervened to stop the forced leave but directed Singh not to continue beyond his term.[18]

Conversely, a group of prominent academics, including former heads of the CSIR and Indian National Science Academy and academics from JNU, Jamia, BHU and former DU vice chancellors, publicly backed Singh, arguing that the government's interference compromised the university's autonomy.[19]

Singh was the primary architect of the controversial Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP). The reform faced severe opposition from students and teachers and was ultimately scrapped by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2014.[20] Singh briefly resigned following the rollback but later retracted his resignation.[21][22]

References

  1. ^ "Vice Chancellor". University of Delhi. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  2. ^ "Postdoctorals, Adjunct and Research Faculty - University of Houston". uh.edu. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Full list of Padma awardees". April 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "Padma Shri to DU V-C evokes sharp reactions". The Hindu. 27 January 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  5. ^ "The Founder". indianshm.org. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  6. ^ "Udita Narayana Singh: His life and Work". Maths History. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  7. ^ Sonali Acharjee (31 May 2012). "How I made it: Dr. Dinesh Singh". India Today. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d "Prof Dinesh Singh Profile" (PDF). University of Delhi. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  9. ^ "UH to Confer 4,939 Degrees During Spring 2014 Commencement".
  10. ^ TNN (13 May 2013). "Delhi University Teachers Association bays for Dinesh Singh's blood". Times of India.
  11. ^ SNN (13 October 2015). "DUTA wants action against 'autocratic' VC". The Statesman.
  12. ^ ANI (25 June 2014). "Dinesh Singh acting like terrorist, has taken university hostage, says President of Delhi University Teacher's Association". DNA.
  13. ^ Namita Nair, Indrani Dasgupta (20 April 2013). "Dissent suppressed in DU by 'feudal, autocratic' VC". Sunday Guardian.
  14. ^ Heena Kausar (24 April 2015). "Calling DU V-C autocratic, officiating principal resigns". The Hindu.
  15. ^ "HRD ministry questions DU V-C's conduct". Millennium Post. 1 January 2015.
  16. ^ Akshaya Mukul (8 October 2015). "President 'not convinced', HRD ministry withdraws file on 'forced leave' for DU VC Dinesh Singh". Times of India.
  17. ^ Abantika Ghosh, Ritika Chopra (8 October 2015). "Put Delhi University Vice Chancellor on compulsory wait, HRD tells President". Indian Express.
  18. ^ manash pratim gohain (9 October 2015). "DU VC to stay in office till end of tenure". Times of India.
  19. ^ "Academics and ex-DU Vice Chancellor back Dinesh Singh". dnaindia.com. Diligent Media Corporation. 9 April 2015.
  20. ^ Pratim Gohain, Manash (27 June 2014). "Delhi University rolls back four-year undergraduate programme, VC Dinesh Singh says". Times of India.
  21. ^ Pratim Gohain, Manash (24 June 2014). "FYUP row: Delhi University VC Dinesh Singh resigns". Times of India.
  22. ^ S.N., Vijetha (24 June 2014). "Confusion over DU VC's resignation". The Hindu.
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