Latest news with #RajasthanUniversities'Laws(Amendment)Bill
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
JNU Adopts 'Kulguru' As Gender-Neutral Hindi Title For Vice Chancellor
Last Updated: JNU has replaced the Hindi term "Kulpati" with "Kulguru" for Vice-Chancellor, aiming for a more gender-neutral title, as proposed by VC Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit. JNU Latest News: In an important change, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has decided to replace the Hindi word 'Kulpati" (which means head of an institution) with 'Kulguru" (which means teacher) as the official Hindi title for the Vice-Chancellor. The new term is meant to be more gender-neutral. This proposal was made by JNU Vice-Chancellor Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit during a recent meeting of the university's working council. In 2022, while speaking at an event, the Vice-Chancellor emphasised that official titles should always be gender-neutral to prevent any future controversies. She mentioned that an important Executive Council meeting was scheduled for September 14, where she would propose replacing the term Kulpati with Kulguru. She added, 'When I joined this university, everyone used 'he' instead of 'she' — even on official documents. But I've since made sure that it's changed to 'she' wherever applicable." She also supported the growing demand to replace Kulpati with Kulguru going forward. JNU's decision follows similar steps taken in other states. In February, the Rajasthan government introduced the Rajasthan Universities' Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aiming to replace 'Kulpati" and 'Pratikulpati" (Pro-Vice Chancellor) with 'Kulguru" and 'Pratikulguru" in all state university laws written in Hindi. The Bill, which was passed in March, explains that the Vice-Chancellor is both the executive and academic head of a university, and that the new terms reflect the traditional guru-shishya parampara (teacher-disciple tradition) from India's ancient education system. Similarly, in July last year, the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet approved a proposal to adopt the term 'Kulguru" for Vice-Chancellors. The state government said the new title conveys a sense of affinity, affection, and respect, and the move was approved by the Council of State Ministers. First Published: June 03, 2025, 12:53 IST
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
What's in a name? JNU gives Vice-Chancellor's title a ‘gender neutral' twist
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has become the latest varsity to bring in 'gender neutral' designations. It has decided to replace the term kulpati (head of a clan or family) with kulguru (teacher or spiritual guide) as the official designation for the Vice-Chancellor in Hindi, The Indian Express has learnt. The move also aims to align with ancient academic traditions. The change, university sources confirmed, was communicated during an Executive Council meeting earlier this year, where Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit suggested the new term be adopted 'for the signature on degree certificates and other academic documents'. On the title change, Pandit told The Indian Express, 'Kulguru is the most appropriate for a V-C. It is gender neutral. Sanskrit is more accurate, and this reflects my job better as a first among equals in academia.' JNU's decision follows a similar move in Rajasthan, where the state government in February introduced the Rajasthan Universities' Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Bill sought to formally replace kulpati and pratikulpati (Pro-Vice-Chancellor) with kulguru and pratikulguru in all state university statutes written in Hindi. The shift reflects a semantic and philosophical preference: kulpati has long been the formal term for university Vice-Chancellors in Hindi, but some scholars and administrators argue that kulguru — evoking the ancient guru-shishya (teacher-disciple) tradition — better captures the role of an academic head in the Indian knowledge system. The Rajasthan Bill's Statement of Objects and Reasons cites India's ancient educational model, stating that 'the vice-chancellor is the principal executive and academic officer in state-funded universities of Rajasthan,' and that the nomenclature change is in keeping with the guru-shishya parampara.' The Bill was passed in March. Last year, the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet, too, passed a similar proposal. In a statement, the MP government in July last year had said, 'It was decided that Vice-Chancellor (kulpati) would now be known as kulgurus in universities. The feeling of affinity, affection, and respect is also inherent in this address. These decisions were approved by the Council of State Ministers.'
