Wednesday, March 30, 2016

The Centre for Women's Studies at Vardah

 The CWS at Vardah is very vibrant with a young team of Supriya and Avantika leading it. Our student Charanjeet Singh is also a faculty here. Enjoyed my stay and meeting all the Scholars. Got to know a large number of tribal issues of Gender and culture in central India.











Feeling the presence of Gandhi in Sevagram



Sevagram is a small village near Wardha town (8 km). Mahatma Gandhi reached the village on the 30th April,1936 early in the morning at about 5 a.m. He remained here for about five to six days. He called the villagers and the purpose of his visit and sought their permission to settle down here.  Gandhiji was 67 years old when he came to Sevagram. From then on, Sevagram has become an inspiring place. Many decisions on import ant national matters and movements were taken at Sevagram. It became the central place for a number of institutions for the nation building activities devised by Gandhiji to suit the inherent strength of this country. The peepal tree that he planted, an old telephone booth set up for him by the erstwhile British government, the hand murals of peacocks and trees on the walls of his hut, a flour grinder in the kitchen, and a basket to catch snakes lying still in a quiet corner—everything remains the way it was when Mahatma Gandhi resided at the Gandhi Ashram in Sevagram. His charkha (spinning wheel), the trademark walking stick, his khadau (wooden sandals), a set of multi-faith scriptures and most of his personal belongings are kept neatly stacked inside the hut which, like in 1936 when it was built, does not yet have an electricity connection. Sevagram, which was Gandhi’s residence for nearly 10 years, may be a forgotten village in a remote corner of Maharashtra, but it was from here that many ideas which shaped a newly emerging nation were born. From the first draft of the Quit India Movement to the focus on rural economy and new systems of education; from health and sanitation work to the fight against untouchability; and, finally, the path to freedom through Satyagraha—Sevagram is remembered as the ‘laboratory’ where Gandhi conducted most of his social experiments. All over Sevagram one could be with Gandhi and his thoughts.












At Sevagram

 In the morning of 30th March, 2016, I visited Sevagram where Gandhi ji lived. The whole place was serene and the calm and quiet reminded one of a Church. A very spiritual place and could be close to Gandhi Ji's life style and thoughts. A group of people sitting under the tree were singing Bhajan. A very spiritual experience.










Meeting Chitra Mudgal in Vardah

  I am at Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University  on 30th March, 2016, to give a preliminary address in the National Conference on Culture, Language and Gender in Tribal Societies of Central India. Very Happy to meet the famous hindi literature writer  Chitra Mudgal who is a writer in residence here. She came across  as a very sincere, humble, sweet, gentle and learned person. I am looking forward to reading her novel Nektor which she is writing here. Mahesh Darpan we discussed you and  your work too.





Monday, March 28, 2016

Ph.D. Pre submission

 Today on 28th March, 2016, at 11.00in the morning three of my students of Women's  Studies  gave their pre Ph. D submission seminars. Looking forward now for Meenal, Archana and Atoosa to submit their thesis soon.





Thursday, March 24, 2016

Putting the facts of the University of Hyderabad in the right perspective

 Over the past few weeks the University of Hyderabad is in the Centre of a storm and the reputation of the University as a Centre of excellence built over the last four decades has been ruined. Some of us are very pained at the turn of the event and would like to put things in the right perspective.


 Yesterday when the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Appa Rao Podile called a meeting a large number of faculty (around 200) attended the meeting.  The VC informed the faculty about his resuming duties after the process of Judicial deposition by the stakeholders was complete.  He assured the faculty about his presence and continuation in the office and sought support from all the faculty in resolving all the issues and taking university forward.  He also apprised the faculty of the incidence that happened on the premises of VC’s lodge yesterday i.e., 22.3.2016 and the engagement of students in violence and vandalism rather than dialogue and peaceful protest.  The Vice-chancellor addressing the faculty reassured that he has come back and would continue.  He put the facts straight and urged upon everyone to go through the facts placed in the university web.  He reiterated that he is always ready to resolve the impasse through democratic dialogues and discussions.  While he welcomed and endorsed the right of students to express differences and protest, he minced no words in stating that deviation from democratic methods cannot be tolerated. 


The mood and the voice of the faculty were loud and clear in support of the VC.  There was unanimity in condemning the violence and vandalism indulged by students and outsiders yesterday.  The faculty unanimously and strongly recommended that the violent act of the students needs to be taken to cognizance and appropriate action should be taken to prevent any repetition.    The faculty unanimously condemned the false propaganda of branding the teachers as casteist.


                The concern of the faculty was that handful of teachers and students have been responsible in tarnishing the image of the university with non-facts.  They strongly felt the need for unity among the university fraternity to restore the image of the university.  The faculty members discussed the issue from two aspects – the immediate action and long term measures.


                The faculty recalled the violence provoking slogans and shoutings’ that translated to the wish that the VC be dead.  As a short term measure the faculty unanimously condemned the violence and vandalism, which never happened in the past.  To uphold the academic atmosphere in the university, the teachers strongly felt that measures should be taken to put an end to the practice of forceful boycott of classes by any section of students.


                Responding to the statement of the VC the faculty expressed their support for participation and dialogue, and discussion with the aggrieved faction.  The Vice-chancellor announced setting up of a committee, which would engage in dialogue with students to resolve the current impasse.   The Vice-chancellor re-assured the faculty that he would continue his efforts in restoring the de-centralized process of administration which has been in vogue until a decade ago.


                The vice-chancellor and the faculty requested the non-teaching staff to call-off their boycott and resume their services to hostels on humanitarian grounds as the hostel-boarders are put to lot of inconvenience.  However, the employees stood their ground because the students crossed all the limits yesterday.

 

                Towards the end of the meeting around 10 teachers joined the meeting with a representation signed by 34 teachers.  The representation translated to asking the VC to ‘remove himself’ from the campus.  The VC responded to each and every allegation made in the petition and the faculty in single voice rejected the contents of the statement and condemned the use of certain words in the representation.






Saturday, March 12, 2016

Valedictory address at Nanded

The national conference ended on 12th March, 2016, with my valedictory address on the scenario of higher education in India today and the challenges for girls. In all a wonderful conference and made new friends and met some very bright youngsters.











Friday, March 11, 2016

National Conference on Women in higher education at Nanded

Attending a two days National Conference on women in higher education policies and perspectives at Nanded, Swami Ramtirth Marathawada University on 11th and 12th March, 2016. Marathawada University impressive entrance. Reminds one of the Kakatiya dynasty  gates. With Prof. Barik ex Vice Chancellor of Sambhalpur University and other delegates . Impressed with their good infrastructure.













Friday, March 4, 2016

Write up in China daily Asia

 A write up in the Chinese Daily on 4th March, 2016.

Traditions limit India’s progress




News paper Interview

 I was very happy to see this interview being published in the International News .