Patna: It was a “VIP teaching” moment rather than a routine class at city-based A N College on Wednesday when state rural works minister Ashok Kumar Choudhary turned up to engage a class of political science in the capacity of assistant professor.The newly appointed teacher, accompanied by a posse of security guards, was welcomed by the vice-chancellors of Patliputra and Magadh universities on his arrival.The teacher, who was feeling a bit nervous before entering the classroom, taught students his favourite topic ‘centre-state relations’. The class heard his lecture in rapt attention and he also replied to the queries of students. Most students appeared quite ‘satisfied’ with his style of teaching, said an eyewitness.The minister arrived at the college in the morning and delivered his lecture in a building which was constructed during his tenure as a minister. Calling the moment “a blessing from Lord Mahadeva”, he noted that it was rare for a serving minister to also teach as a ‘professor’.“I was more afraid of answering questions from the students than answering questions asked by legislators in the state legislature,” Choudhary told the repoters when asked about his teaching experience in the classroom.He further said, “I had studied political science as a student in 1991 and am going to teach the subject well after a gap of about 35 years and, hence, I am feeling nervous and anxious.”College’s Hindi department teacher Kala Nath Mishra said the VCs had come to the college in connection with another cultural programme being held simultaneously in another department.Commenting on the “high-voltage classroom drama,” a senior faculty member of the college said it does not reflect well on a teacher to enter a class with such fanfare. In such conditions, students are more attracted to the minister rather than his lecture, he said. Yet another faculty member of the institution described Wednesday’s event as a replay of popular Hindi film “Peepli Live”.Choudhary’s entry into academia in Feb this year follows his selection as an assistant professor after qualifying through the recruitment process conducted by the Bihar State University Service Commission. The process, which began in 2020 to fill vacancies across universities and colleges, concluded recently with the release of final results.At 58, Choudhary’s selection has raised questions about whether he will formally take up the teaching position while holding ministerial office. Under existing rules, he may be required to resign from govt service or seek special permission (to remain on lien) if he chooses to join.Earlier, talking to TOI soon after his posting at A N College, Choudhary had said “I have been interested in academics right since my student days. I wanted to become a university teacher after completing my Ph D in 2003, but, unfortunately, there was no vacancy of teacher in any university at that time. I applied for the post as soon as the vacancies were advertised in the newspaper.”
