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

'Draconian' Kerala health law follows WHO diktat: Govt readies to take harsh measures

By Dr Maya Valecha*  The Governor of Kerala has signed the Kerala Public Health Bill, which essentially reverses the people’s campaign in healthcare services in Kerala for decentralisation. The campaign had led to relinquishing of state powers in 1996, resulting in improvement of health parameters in Kerala. Instead, now, enforcement of law through the exercise of power, fines, etc., and the implementation of protocol during the pandemic, are considered of prime importance.

Reject WHO's 'draconian' amendments on pandemic: Citizens to Union Health Minister

By Our Representative  Several concerned Indian citizens have written to the Union Health Minister to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted during the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA75) in May 2022, apprehending this will make the signatories surrender their autonomy to the “unelected, unaccountable and the whimsical WHO in case of any future ‘pandemics’.”

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. 

Bihar rural women entrepreneurs witness 50% surge in awareness about renewal energy

By Mignonne Dsouza*  An endline survey conducted under the Bolega Bihar initiative revealed a significant increase in awareness of renewable energy among women, rising from 25% to 76% in Nalanda and Gaya. Renu Kumari, a 34-year-old entrepreneur from Nalanda, Bihar, operates a village eatery that serves as the primary source of income for her family, including her husband and five children. However, a significant portion of her profits was being directed toward covering monthly electricity expenses that usually reach Rs 2,000. 

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.

Work with Rajasthan's camel herders: German scientist wins World Cookbook Award 2023

By Rosamma Thomas*  Gourmand World Cookbook Awards are the only awards for international food culture. This year, German scientist  Ilse Kohler Rollefson , founder of Camel Charisma, the first of India’s camel dairies, in Pali district of Rajasthan, won the award for her work with camel herders in Rajasthan, and for preparing for the UN International Year of Camelids, 2024. 

Why is electricity tariff going up in India? Who is the beneficiary? A random reflection

By Thomas Franco*  Union Ministry of Power has used its power under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to force States to import coal which has led to an increase in the cost of electricity production and every consumer is paying a higher tariff. In India, almost everybody from farmers to MSMEs are consumers of electricity.

Golwalkar's views on tricolour, martyrs, minorities, caste as per RSS archives

By Shamsul Islam*  First time in the history of independent India, the in-charge minister of the Cultural Ministry in the current Modi government, Prahlad Singh Patel, has glorified MS Golwalkar, second supremo of the RSS and the most prominent ideologue of the RSS till date, on his birth anniversary, February 19. In a tweet he wrote : “Remembering a great thinker, scholar, and remarkable leader #MSGolwalkar on his birth anniversary. His thoughts will remain a source of inspiration & continue to guide generations.”

'Pro-corporate agenda': Odisha crackdown on tribal slum dwellers fighting for land rights

By Our Representative  The civil rights network Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), even as condemning what it calls “brutal repression” on the Adivasi slum dwellers of Salia Sahi in Bhubaneshwar by the Odisha police, has said that the crackdown was against the tribals struggling for land rights in order to “stop the attempts at land-grab by the government.”

Deplorable, influential sections 'still believe' burning coal is essential indefinitely

By Shankar Sharma*  Some of the recent developments in the power sector, as some  recent news items show, should be of massive relevance/ interest to our policy makers in India. Assuming that our authorities are officially mandated/ committed to maintain a holistic approach to the overall welfare of all sections of our society, including the flora, fauna and general environment, these developments/ experiences from different parts of the globe should be clear pointers to the sustainable energy pathways for our people.