Latest news with #JNU
The Hindu
24 minutes ago
- General
- The Hindu
Arabic students urged to grab global opportunities
The Anvarul Islam Arabic College, Kuniyil, organised an extension lecture on Arabic language on Wednesday. Delivering the lecture, Ubaidur Rahman, professor from Jawaharlal Nehru University's (JNU) Centre for Arabic and African Studies, New Delhi, encouraged students to capitalise on the new global opportunities emerging from the growing relevance of the Arabic language. College principal Mohammed Favas presided over the function. Arabic department head Shakir Babu Kuniyil, staff secretary K.P. Abdul Haleelm Thangal, C.V. Shoukathali, P. Firos, and P. Sulaiman Farooqui spoke.
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- General
- Indian Express
Former JNU professor Nandu Ram, pioneering sociologist who brought Dalit studies to mainstream, passes away
'A simple man', 'gentle in manner': this is how family, friends and colleagues remember Professor Nandu Ram, a pioneering sociologist who is hailed for helping bring Dalit perspectives to the heart of Indian academia. In a career spanning more than four decades, Professor Ram is credited with reshaping the field of Indian sociology. He was among the first to rigorously explore the social, political, and economic dynamics of caste in modern India, from lived experience. He died on July 13 at the age of 78. His son, Siddharth (46), who lived with him in West Delhi's Dwarka, said the death was caused by a heart attack following a long battle with Parkinson's disease. 'He loved to write,' Siddharth said. '… and through his writing, he wanted to uplift people from the Dalit community.' Despite holding senior academic positions, Professor Ram lived with remarkable modesty. 'He never bought a car. He always walked…,' Siddharth recalled. 'Even if his own pockets were empty, he would help others.' Born on July 28, 1946, in Marhia village in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur, Professor Ram came from a family of labourers. His parents, Janaki Devi and Pattu Ram, ensured he could study even when such aspirations were rare. 'He grew up in a basti outside the main village,' Siddharth said. 'He had seen segregation firsthand.' Professor Ram excelled early, topping his district in high school and later moving to Varanasi for his higher secondary education. At Queen's College, he was often mocked for being a 'villager,' but he remained undeterred. He earned his MA from Banaras Hindu University and completed a PhD in Sociology from IIT Kanpur in 1976, where he also taught for several years. In 1978, he joined the Centre for the Study of Social Systems (CSSS) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where he would go on to teach, mentor, and lead for more than three decades. He served as the Chairperson of the CSSS from 1999 to 2001, and later as the first Dalit Dean of the School of Social Sciences. In 1995, he was appointed the founding Ambedkar Chair Professor in Sociology at JNU. He was instrumental in creating the Ambedkar Chair and became the first Ambedkar Chair professor. Between 2001 and 2004, he also served as Director General of the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar National Institute of Social Sciences in Madhya Pradesh. As a researcher, his work was foundational. His 1988 book — 'The Mobile Scheduled Castes: Rise of a New Middle Class' — gave scholars a new lens to examine social mobility. His five-volume 'Encyclopaedia of Scheduled Castes' (2007–2011) remains a landmark in the field. 'Beyond Ambedkar' (1995) pushed the boundaries of Dalit political thought. 'He taught us sociology that spoke from the bottom,' said Maithrayee Chaudhuri, who was among his first students and later a colleague at JNU. 'Over the decades, he built a generation of scholars who created a distinct body of knowledge on marginalised communities. He was a lone voice back then — and it was not easy.' Even as his influence grew, he stayed clear of campus politics and public grandstanding. 'He was never into sloganeering,' said Anand Kumar, another long-time colleague. 'He never wore his Ambedkarite identity on his sleeve. He respected people regardless of caste or class, and that's why people respected him.' In 2017, the Indian Sociological Society honoured him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The JNU Teachers' Association describes him as 'quiet but firm,' 'gentle in manner,' and 'a person who shall be remembered fondly by colleagues, students, and the academic community worldwide.' His personal life was marked by joy and tragedy. He raised four children and lost his first wife — Siddharth's mother, Rajvanti Devi — suddenly in 1989 to a brain haemorrhage. 'It felt like an entire household crashed,' Siddharth said. 'She was his connection to the village. After her, he was deeply depressed for a long time.' Despite his declining health in recent years, worsened by the Covid pandemic, Professor Ram remained mentally alert, continuing to mentor and read, according to his family. 'His muscles wasted away…,' Siddharth said. 'Eventually, he caught an infection and had a heart attack.' One of his most cherished memories of his father takes Siddharth back to the quiet days at JNU in the 1980s. 'I was about 10 or 11. Papa would take me to the SSS-I canteen and buy me a samosa with chutney. I would be adamant about going there every day as a child, and he would take me along,' he said. 'I used to draw cartoons of his colleagues and hand them out.' It was a simple ritual, samosas, sketches and sociology— but it captured the essence of an academician who lived quietly, taught deeply, and carried his ideals until his last day. Apart from Siddharth, Professor Ram is survived by three other children. 'Yesterday was Papa's birthday. Had he been alive, he would've turned 79,' Siddharth said.
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
JNU Vice Chancellor skips central universities meet, ministry seeks explanation
The Ministry of Education has sought a formal explanation from Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit for her absence from a high-level conference of Central University to government sources, the absence was recorded without prior approval, a move considered unusual for such a key national two-day conference was held in Kevadia, Gujarat, from July 10 to 11, and was part of a series of events marking five years of the National Education Policy (NEP) TAKES SERIOUS VIEW Sources noted that Pandit had not obtained formal clearance from the ministry to miss the conference, which was attended by other Vice-Chancellors and senior education officials."Her absence was viewed seriously. In such circumstances, Vice-Chancellors are required to take prior approval. There was a conference at JNU coinciding with the Vice-Chancellors' conference. But it should have been kept in mind that the invite for this conference was extended much in advance," a source it was pointed out that JNU was hosting another conference at the same time, the ministry believes this should not have conflicted with the NEP event, particularly as the invitation for the Kevadia conference had been extended well in OF THE CONFERENCEThe conference focused on the review of institutional progress under the NEP 2020 and allowed heads of Central Universities to discuss future academic and administrative was also intended to promote a unified approach to implementing the policy's goals, such as curriculum redesign, digital learning, research collaborations, and internationalisation of Indian higher Ministry of Education has not yet disclosed any disciplinary measures but has officially asked Pandit for a of now, there has been no public statement from the JNU Vice-Chancellor responding to the ministry's notice.(With inputs from PTI)- Ends
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
JNU VC Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit skips key conference: Education ministry seeks explanation; no prior approval taken
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Education has sought an explanation from Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit for her absence at a crucial conference of Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities held in Kevadia, Gujarat from July 10-11. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Vice-Chancellor had not obtained formal approval before skipping the conference, which was organized to mark five years of the National Education Policy 2020 implementation, according to PTI. The conference aimed to bring together heads of Central universities to review institutional progress and plan future strategies. "Her absence was viewed seriously. In such circumstances, Vice-Chancellors are required to take prior approval. There was a conference at JNU coinciding with the Vice-Chancellors' conference. But it should have been kept in mind that the invite for this conference was extended much in advance," a source revealed. The JNU Vice-Chancellor has not yet responded to the matter. The Ministry noted that Pandit had prioritized attending a concurrent conference at JNU over the central universities' meeting, despite receiving advance notice for the Kevadia conference.
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Education Ministry Seeks Explanation From JNU VC For Skipping Key Conference Without Approval
The Education Ministry has asked JNU VC Santishree Pandit to explain her absence from a key VCs' meet, despite a prior invite. The Ministry of Education has sought a written explanation from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit over her absence from a key conference of Central University heads, sources told PTI. Officials noted that Pandit did not attend the Vice-Chancellors' conference without obtaining prior approval from the Ministry. Her absence was flagged as a serious matter. There has been no official response from the JNU Vice-Chancellor on the issue so far. 'Her absence was viewed seriously. In such circumstances, Vice-Chancellors are required to take prior approval. There was a conference at JNU coinciding with the Vice-Chancellors' conference. But it should have been kept in mind that the invite for this conference was extended much in advance," a source said. While the Ministry's conference was scheduled for July 10–11 in Kevadia, Gujarat, JNU was hosting its own three-day conference on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) from July 10 to 12, which former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated. Key discussions at the event focused on assessing how Central Universities are aligning with the NEP's next-phase objectives, fostering dialogue on institutional innovations and challenges, and preparing universities for upcoming policy milestones, regulatory shifts, and the evolving global academic landscape leading up to 2047. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
