Novel Writer First VC Of New Central University

New Delhi, Aug 3 (UNI) The author of Fall of a Hero rose to become the first vice chancellor of India's 24th Central university formed today, the Human Resource Development Ministry reported.

Delhi University Slavic Studies professor Abhai Maurya, a first- generation learner took over as the Vice-Chancellor of English and Foreign Languages University at Hyderabad, the Ministry said.

With the coming into force of the English and Foreign Languages University Act, India now has a dedicated Central University for promotion and development of English and Foreign Languages and literature.

Prof Maurya has a peasant background and hails from a village in Haryana. He bacame a Professor of Russian Literature at DU in 1988 and subsequently the founder Head of its Slavic Studies Department.

He has written 12 scholarly and creative books and published more than 50 research papers. He has been associated with the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation.

He was awarded A S Pushkin Medal, the highest honour in Russian literature. His novels Fall of a Hero in 1998, Yugnayika in 2004 and Mukti-Path in 2006 won critical acclaim, the Ministry said.

UNI