Skip to main content

Mediocre academics in 'unusually long' short-listed candidates for Pune varsity VC post

By Rosamma Thomas* 

The nodal officer in charge of the search and selection committee for the choice of vice chancellor of the Savitribai Phule Pune University has released a list of 27 candidates who have made it to the unusually long short-list. A perusal of the short-list though, leaves one wondering what criteria the search committee looked for in the appointment of vice chancellor. Mediocre academics, it appears, is what marks out candidates selected.
Prof Ashok Mahadu Mahajan features on the list and heads the department of electronics at Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon. On his CV from February 2023, he lists a large number of foreign tours. Also listed are achievements titled “social responsibility”: it lists the adoption of five villages, but does not state what was done as part of the adoption process. He organized a summit to “build inclusive social capital among students”. He participated in tree plantation drives. He has about 58 publications in research journals, and has been cited about 500 times.
Anjali Dinkar Kurane, who serves as head of the Anthropology department at Pune University, is also among the shortlisted – she has served at Pune University since 1991. “Social change is a process in which significant alteration occur in the structure and function of the particular social system,” begins her article ‘Socio-cultural changes among the Mahadeo-Kolis in Maharashtra’, published in 2002 while she was a lecturer. She has books on tribal education in India and changes in the lifestyle of urban Iranian women.
Sanjeev Sonawane of the Education department of Pune University has also made it to the list – his research interests are mostly focused on attitudes, and one of his research papers titled “Traditional Yoga for Value Education”.
Candidates have been short-listed on the basis of an application, and it is noteworthy that a former vice chancellor of Mumbai University too is among the applicants – Sanjay V Deshmukh.
Prof PA Mahanwar, director of the Institute of Open and Distance Learning of Mumbai University too has made it to the shortlist, even though he has been in the news recently for an academic calendar at his institute that appears completely out-of-whack.
Technical glitches have marred smooth conduct of examinations. And results have been delayed. There have been other problems caused to students on account of poor administration – with time table for examinations mentioning one subject, while the exam hall had another listed!
There is a long list of 27 candidates. All candidates, the nodal officer mentions, have been informed about the process of selection.
---
*Freelance journalist 

Comments

TRENDING

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas*  November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.  

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor*  Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor*  Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Campaign group urges INDIA alliance to release Jharkhand manifesto to counter BJP’s 'divisive' agenda

By Our Representative  The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan, an advocacy group, has issued a press release urging the INDIA alliance to release a Jharkhand-specific manifesto to counter the BJP’s "divisive" electoral agenda. With just two weeks remaining before the assembly elections, the INDIA coalition has yet to announce its plans and priorities for the state. Meanwhile, the BJP's campaign, according to the press release, is centered around communalism, divisiveness, and distraction from Jharkhand's core issues.

Israel's 'war crime': 18,000 children died not just from bomb explosions but also starvation

By Sandeep Pandey*  Last year 6 years old Madiha was a guest during Diwali at our home in Lucknow. Listening to the sound of fire crackers bursting outside she remarked, ‘It appears as if we’re in Gaza.’ She has probably no idea of the extent of damage and loss of life that has taken place in Palestine but can relate to sound of crackers as bombs exploding over Gaza.

United organisations oppose privatisation of health services in Madhya Pradesh

By Our Representative  In a strong show of opposition, multiple health associations under the umbrella of the United Organisations for Action against Privatisation of Health Services have condemned the Government of Madhya Pradesh’s recent moves towards privatising public health facilities. They argue that these actions, including outsourcing and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, will compromise the availability and accessibility of essential health services for the state’s citizens.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah  The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad*  On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.