1. Nani Gopal Mahanta, Assam’s state academic advisor, is expected to transition to the Vice Chancellor position at Gauhati University.
2. Mahanta’s extensive background includes serving as a professor and holding administrative roles at the Department of Political Science at the same university.
3. Sources indicate that Mahanta’s appointment comes after he resigns from the state academic advisor post.
Guwahati, Feb 13: Assam’s state academic advisor, Nani Gopal Mahanta, who tendered his resignation, is reportedly set to assume the role of Vice Chancellor at Gauhati University, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Before his advisory role, Mahanta served as a professor at the Department of Political Science at Gauhati University, where he also held positions as Head of the Department and Registrar from 2018 to 2019.
An alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Dr. Mahanta pursued a Rotary World Peace Fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley, from 2002 to 2004, during which he conducted extensive research across Europe and South Asia.
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Dr. Mahanta’s scholarly contributions extend to numerous publications in national and regional newspapers and journals and the authoring of several books.
He actively engages in public discourse on various platforms, including television and print media, covering various state and national issues.
Recognized for his efforts in promoting civic and social awareness, Dr. Mahanta received the Education Research and Development Foundation (ERDF) Excellence Award in 2009. He maintains active involvement with various policymaking bodies within the Government of Assam.
His consultancy services have been sought by institutions such as the Department of Education, Government of Assam, Secondary Education Board of Assam (SEBA), and Cotton College, among others.
Additionally, he was President of the Governing Body at Handique Girls College and served as President of the Northeast India Political Science Association (NEIPSA) from 2014 to 2018.
Dr. Mahanta’s upbringing in a Vaishnavite Satriya family in Sivasagar, Assam, has instilled in him a deep appreciation for ‘Naam Prasanga’ and the Satriya ethos, enriching his academic and cultural contributions to the region.
