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Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Operation Sindoor a declaration, asserts India will punish not only terrorists but systems that nourish them: JNU V-C Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit
The vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Dr Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, on Thursday said that Operation Sindoor asserts that India will not be 'blackmailed by nuclear threats' and will punish 'not only terrorists but the systems that nourish them'. Pandit was delivering the valedictory address as she presided over the convocation of the College of Military Engineering (CME) in Pune on Thursday morning. Thirty-five officers were conferred degrees under the academic affiliation of the JNU. This included 11 officers from the MTech (Structural Engineering) course and 24 officers from the Technical Entry Scheme (TES) course who received BTech degrees in civil and mechanical engineering. Referring to Operation Sindoor, India's retaliatory response after the Pahalgam terror attack, Pandit said it 'represents the changed doctrine that redefines national goals'. 'India's national security philosophy is no longer one of ambiguity and endurance. It is now of clarity, consequence and retaliation. The Pahalgam attack – barbarically targeted and state-sponsored – was not the first provocation but a final trigger. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, a calibrated multi-domain retaliation that changed our national security paradigm,' she said. '(Operation) Sindoor was not just a military operation but a declaration. It asserted that India will not absorb terrorism as a cost of geography or diplomacy. It will retaliate. It will define the escalation matrix. And it will punish aggression through strength, not speeches. The significance of Operation Sindoor lies in operational brilliance and strategic symbolism,' she added. Saying that Operation Sindoor was the beginning of a new strategic era, Pandit said, 'It asserts that India will not be blackmailed by nuclear threats. India will retaliate across domains – military, cyber, diplomatic, hydrological. India will punish not only terrorists but the systems that nourish them. India will shape the narrative before it is shaped by others. It is the doctrine you are part of and it is the doctrine you must help sustain, through your preparedness, innovation and unapologetic assertion of our national interest. Deterrence is not a slogan. It is infrastructure, data, logistics and precision – the very things you have been trained for.' The JNU vice-chancellor added, 'In the past, India made some strategic errors. Trusting third parties to resolve internal issues…internationalising domestic concerns…and assuming that restraint would earn respect. No longer. Operation Sindoor decisively rejected any third-party mediation…'. 'You are now a part of a doctrine that no longer allows Pakistan to hide behind non-state actors. You are part of a generation that has rejected the fatalism of strategic restraint and has adopted strategic clarity of national interest. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are no longer civilian luxuries but are military necessities. In the cyber warfare phase of Operation Sindoor, we witnessed a dramatic evolution that, for the first time, cyberspace became an active theatre of conflict. It is not science fiction. It is your battlefield,' Pandit said, addressing the gathering. Addressing the 35 officers, Pandit said, 'Graduating today means stepping out in a world more volatile, complex, and interdependent than ever before. A world where technology disrupts borders, cyberattacks undermine sovereignty and engineered narratives shape geopolitical outcomes. It is a world where the old doctrines of diplomacy have collapsed under the weight of asymmetry, hybrid warfare and proxy battles. But it is a world today where India stands tall, emerging not just as a regional anchor but as a global conscience. The world you enter from here is one beyond engineering and military doctrine, but one where technological mastery is a prerequisite tool for you to preserve the sovereign status of India. You are not merely engineers, you are the architects of India's deterrence.' CME Commandant Lieutenant General A K Ramesh encouraged the graduating officers to remain committed to professional excellence by staying attuned to ongoing innovations and challenges in the engineering domain. Brigadier Ravi Reddy, Officiating Deputy Commandant and Dean, CME, presented the academic report for Spring Term 2025. Lieutenant Colonel Neeraj Parmar was awarded the Gold Medal and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Army Training Command (ARTRAC) Award for securing the top position in the MTech (Structural Engineering) course. The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief ARTRAC Award for BTech (Civil Engineering) and BTech (Mechanical Engineering) went to Lieutenant Priyansh Mishra and Lieutenant Anshuman Chaudhary of TES, respectively.
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.'
The Print
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
V-C in attendance, JNU renews joint research pact with Taipei Economic & Cultural Centre in India
Amongst the areas covered under the agreement include joint research between JNU and institutions in Taiwan, conferences and forums, facilitating exchanges to deepen understanding between New Delhi and Taipei, and facilitating increased cooperation between the two sides. The original agreement was first signed in 2022. On Monday, JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit signed the agreement along with Baushuan Ger, the Representative to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC), in the presence of Amitabh Mattoo, the Dean of the School of International Studies at JNU. New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has renewed an agreement with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India promoting joint research with academic institutions in Taiwan, and allowing for collaborative academic initiatives with a focus on Taiwan studies in India. At the signing event, Pandit pointed out Taiwan's strong support for India in its fight against terrorism and highlighted the necessity for enhancing cooperation between the two sides, given the current geopolitical situation. A few weeks earlier, JNU suspended its cooperation with the Inonu University in Türkiye, citing national security concerns. Other universities including Jamia Millia Islamia suspended cooperation with Turkish universities in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. Ankara has supported Pakistan since the launch of India's Operation Sindoor. In contrast, Taiwan expressed its 'firm' support for India to take all measures necessary to 'safeguard' its national security. Though India acknowledges the One China Policy, which recognises Taiwan as a part of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the two sides have maintained diplomatic links in recent years. Last year, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his election victory. In response, Modi thanked the Taiwanese leader and sought 'closer ties' with Taipei, in both the economic and technological arenas. At the event, Buashuan Ger, the representative of the TECC in India, highlighted the need for enhancing cooperation and finding new avenues for the same between New Delhi and Taipei. The other attendees at the signing included Ravikesh, Registrar of JNU, Robert Hsieh Bor-huei, Deputy Representative of the TECC and Tsai Jen-Chun, Assistant Representative at the TECC. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: How was JNU imagined? Design archives show the planning of a micro-city and a nation
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Univs urged to cut academic ties with Pak, Turkiye & Bangladesh
The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has urged Indian universities to sever ties with institutions in Pakistan, Turkiye, and Bangladesh, citing national security concerns and alleged support for anti-India narratives. Several universities, including JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia, have already suspended or terminated collaborations with Turkish institutions. The AIU frames this as a patriotic duty to protect India's sovereignty. NEW DELHI: The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) Thursday wrote to vice chancellors across the country urging them to sever academic ties with institutions in Pakistan, Turkiye, and Bangladesh, citing national security concerns . Institutions like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia and Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU), have already suspended or terminated their academic collaborations with Turkish higher education institutions, while Delhi University is reviewing its MoUs. In a strongly worded letter, 'Appeal for National Solidarity in Response to Pakistan and Its Allies' State-Sponsored Terrorism Against India', to all the 1,100 universities, AIU president professor Vinay Kumar Pathak condemned what he described as 'state-sponsored terrorism' and criticised countries such as Turkiye and Bangladesh for supporting anti-India narratives. 'These efforts aim to destabilise our democratic fabric and national unity,' the letter reads, calling on Indian universities to 'review and, if needed, suspend or end' partnerships with institutions in the three nations. JNU has suspended an MoU with Turkiye's Inonu University 'due to national security considerations as JNU stands with the nation and the armed forces, many of whom are JNU Alumni,' said Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, VC of the university. Jamia has suspended all forms of collaborations with Turkish educational and other establishments. UP govt-run CSJMU has terminated its MoUwith Istanbul University. The AIU letter frames the appeal as a patriotic duty, emphasising the need for 'national solidarity' over academic convenience. It encourages institutions to put the integrity and sovereignty of the nation above global engagements where anti-India propaganda is evident. While critics may see this as a politicisation of education, AIU said the appeal is rooted in protecting India's core values and national interest. 'India's academic institutions stand united in condemnation of terrorism,' the letter declared.
The Print
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Jamia snaps academic ties with Turkish institutions citing national security concerns
'Due to national security considerations, any MoU between Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) and any institution affiliated to the government of Turkiye stands suspended with immediate effect until further orders. Jamia Millia Islamia stands firmly with the nation,' the university said in a post on X. The move came against the backdrop of Turkiye's backing for Pakistan and its condemnation of India's recent strikes on terror camps in the neighbouring country and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor. Pakistan also used Turkish drones on a large scale in the recent military conflict with India. New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) The Jamia Millia Islamia has suspended all academic collaborations with institutions affiliated to the government of Turkiye citing national security concerns, officials said on Thursday. The Delhi University (DU), meanwhile, said it has no active collaboration with any Turkish or Azerbaijani institutions as all its previous MoUs have already expired. 'The DU has examined all the active international collaborations and MoUs. We currently have no collaboration with Turkiye or Azerbaijan; the collaborations we had in the past expired in 2024. We don't have any student from these two countries at present. The last Turkish student passed out from DU last year. We stand with the country,' a senior DU official told PTI. Speaking to PTI, JMI's PRO Saima Saeed said, 'Jamia has suspended any form of collaboration with any Turkish educational institution and also any collaboration with any Turkish establishment. We stand with the government and the nation, and everything stands suspended until further notice.' Jamia's decision followed similar moves by other leading institutions. The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has also suspended its MoU with Turkiye's Inonu University, which was signed earlier this year for faculty and student exchange programmes. 'JNU has suspended the MoU due to national security considerations as JNU stands with the nation and the armed forces, many of whom are JNU alumni,' Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit said. After Turkiye and Azerbaijan condemned India's recent strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, New Delhi's trade relations with Ankara and Baku were expected to come under strain. There were growing calls for a boycott of Turkish goods and tourism from certain quarters across India. Several travel platforms, including EaseMyTrip and Ixigo, have issued advisories against visiting Turkiye, reflecting the mounting public sentiment in India against the West Asian nation. PTI MHS ARI This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
