By Prof Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit
Public education bridges the gap of social, economic and regional disparities.
The motto of Excellence with Empathy, Equality with Equity and Inclusion with Integrity and Innovation is even more relevant today. The reason being the spate of suicides by promising young men and women, especially from the marginalized groups—this is extremely distressing to say the least. Higher education institutions need to address this issue urgently for there seems to be a lack of empathy, equality and inclusion. It is necessary that all stakeholders need to build this sense of belonging. We need to learn from each other, especially the best practices in empathy, equality and inclusion. These academic spaces need to be created and strictly practised.
The goal of becoming a Vishvaguru, a leader in the knowledge society requires transformational reforms in education. The NEP 2020 is indeed a unique framework, for it brings in continuity with change, realm with region and holism with specialization. The stress is on interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary aspects of knowledge, balance between science, technology, social sciences, humanities and languages. A touch of the local, regional with the national and international as well as the universal.
The State’s role in education is very important, for it is public education that bridges the gap of social, economic and regional disparities. Private players can never replace the State, as the autonomy of educational institutions is guaranteed by a democratic state like India. Undertaking the weighty yet indispensable responsibility of embracing the endeavour of learning, fostering education, and driving innovation are intricately tied to the architecture of our education system. Within this framework, the role of higher education institutions, particularly exemplified by institutions like JNU, assumes an outsized and pivotal significance. This calls a higher investment in education by the State to more than 10% of the GDP. Political power without narrative power is like a directionless ship. Science and technology are just instruments, and a narrative architecture built and nurtured by political power with economic and social power will enhance the longevity of any political regime.
NEP 2020 is a visionary document that has given HEIs the opportunity to be flexible, experiment and be more inclusive. Once a student is able to gain admission into the top HEIs the feeling of belonging need to be created by the faculty and the seniors, isolation and competition need to be replaced by empathy, learning and mindfulness. Instead of declaring a student a failure in a format of examination, need not be the last word on his/her abilities. The greatest mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan failed to clear his higher secondary. It is not only an issue of mental illness, but the environment that creates it. HEIs need to give that ray of hope to all. HEIs need to talk to each other to resolve these issues and create unalienating spaces.
The designated role ascribed to institutions of higher learning, including JNU, is to facilitate education, foster innovation, and contribute to the construction of a society characterized by openness, diversity, compassion, self-reliance, self-dignity and high-caliber competitiveness. From its inception, JNU has been a vital chapter within India’s narrative of higher education. It has functioned as a nurturing crucible for emerging leaders across diverse domains and sectors, ranging from the political sphere to the realm of bureaucracy, the armed forces and two Noble Prize winners. Moreover, JNU has fervently championed inclusive, democratic and creative spaces for discourse, deliberation and discussion significantly influencing the trajectory of public debates.
While we rightfully take pride in many aspects of JNU, its history, and the institution itself, some challenges demand our attention. The first challenge confronting higher education institutions in India, including JNU, revolves around enhancing their outcomes and outputs. Subsequent challenges, though relevant, complement or augment this central concern. The primary objective at JNU is to extend its impact by assuming a heightened social responsibility—cultivating a workforce that is not only characterized by parity, equity, diversity, and enhanced competitiveness but also wields the agency to influence and guide the global trajectory. JNU’s pivotal role lies in nurturing a workforce that not only conforms to prevailing global paradigms but also possesses the capacity to shape and lead them. This commitment to proactive influence and guidance represents an imperative. Failing to fulfill this pivotal mission would render JNU’s identity as a university and higher education institution incomplete. How to incorporate Industry -University cooperation for skill enhancement.
The second significant challenge pertains to extending outreach to marginalized and underrepresented segments of society. JNU has steadfastly positioned itself as an institution fostering an environment conducive to the progress of women and marginalized groups. In doing this, JNU has not only propagated and extended the concept of “Nari Shakti” (women led development)but has also served as a living embodiment of it. In a remarkable stride, the institution has witnessed the appointments of women as chairpersons and Deans over the past one and a half years—a historical precedent that resonates with its commitment to equity and women’s advancement and empowerment. With increase in the number of girl students and women faculty in the last year and half.
The third challenge revolves around infrastructural limitations. Financing remains an enduring struggle for higher education institutions worldwide, presenting fluctuations in resource availability. JNU faces fiscal constraints, yet it has adroitly harnessed technology and alternative sources of revenues to mitigate a range of deficiencies. Pioneering the landscape, JNU is set to become India’s first higher education institution with a fully operational 5G-enabled campus and exploring the Private -public collaboration in infrastructure development. This transformative step underscores our resolve to recalibrate ourselves, bolstering competitiveness and efficiency. Such adaptations equip us to effectively address contemporary issues and anticipate the challenges of tomorrow, yielding tangible outcomes.
The fourth imperative is how to link tradition with modernity, excellence with empathy, equality with equity and inclusion with integrity and innovation. This transition necessitates a concentrated emphasis on fostering and advancing Indian Knowledge Systems. The setting up of Vidyaranya Institute of Knowledge Advance Studies {VIKAS} as a step in this direction. This includes various aspects, including the promotion of Indian languages. JNU envisions a “School of Indian Languages, Culture and Civilization” to foster better understanding of each other. Under this initiative, a Center for Tamil Language Studies has been established in JNU that is poised to be joined by the Assamese, Odia, Kannada, and Marathi languages. While JNU is not the singular entity engaged in this endeavor, it aims to assume a leadership role to actualize the visionary NEP 2020.
The biggest challenge is the existence of multiple narratives in the Indian intellectual horizons with excluding any. We aim to cultivate a proficiency that attracts the world to us rather than us seeking validation from the world. Looking forward, our strategy encompasses leveraging the prowess of our alumni network and building upon our notable achievements. Concurrently, we are committed to forging novel avenues of contribution, exemplified by our emphasis on Indian Knowledge Systems. Indic Civilization state is a Feminist and a nature centric one. We celebrate Six Ds in JNU- Democracy, Difference, Debate, Dialogue, Dissent and Development, very much part of our values. We have students and faculty from all parts of the country working for the nation’s progress in peace and harmony.
Originally Published : The Sunday Guardian, 10th September, 2023
Posted in SIS Blog with the authorization of the author.
Prof Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit is Vice Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India