JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government announced a two-day state mourning on Sunday and Monday following the demise of former governor Kalyan Singh, who died in Lucknow on Saturday evening. He was 89. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting on Sunday.
“All government offices, public sector undertaking and institutions will remain closed on Monday. The tricolour will fly at half-mast at all government buildings and no government programmes will be held,” says an official statement.
Singh served as the governor from 2014-19 and became only the second governor to complete his full five-year term. He had surprised everyone by announcing to drop the prefix ‘Excellency’ from the name of the governor along with dropping guard of honour during his official visits.
As a chancellor of state universities, he took keen interest in bringing transparency in the system. He introduced biometric attendance in higher education institutes and batted for standardised eligibility criteria for the post of vice-chancellors. His five-point charter for smart villages adopted by the varsities included free from tobacco, illiteracy, crime, legal cases and uncleanliness. It was later adopted by several universities in other states.
Some of his decisions didn’t go well in state polity. He directed the state varsities to do away with the robe and gown on convocation ceremonies by terming it a reflection of the imperial mindset. Also, installing a statue of Swami Vivekananda and unfurling the tricolour in every varsity was seen as move to inject a sense of hyper nationalism in educational institutes.
