HRD says PhDs only on ‘national priority’ topics, Kerala prof quits central univ board


New Delhi, Mar 24(NIE): A member of the Board of Studies of English and Comparative Literature at the Central University of Kerala (CUK) has resigned in protest against the administration’s order asking all departments to prepare “a shelf of projects” in line with “national priorities” for PhD scholars.

The directive came on March 13. The circular was issued at the behest of the Union HRD Ministry, which, at a meeting of vice-chancellors of central universities in December last year, had asked the V-Cs to “discourage research in irrelevant areas”.

“When Fellows are being admitted for PhDs, the topics for the thesis should be in accordance with the national priorities. Allotting privilege topics to the PhD students should be dispensed with,” states the minutes of the meeting held December 15, 2018.

CUK subsequently wrote to all Deans and Heads of Departments to prepare a list of projects “considering national priorities”. The circular states that students in future can only opt for research topics from the predetermined list. Under the current system, a PhD hopeful proposes a topic for her thesis during her interview at the university, and is grilled on it by the interview panel. The panel either approves the proposal, or makes some changes to it. But in general, students are free to pursue research in the areas they want.

Meena T Pillai, a professor from the University of Kerala (which is different from the CUK), resigned from the Board of Studies of English and Comparative Literature on Wednesday to mark her protest against the university’s decision. She was an external member of the Board of Studies. “Research on, say, a small tribal community in a remote village of Kerala would be a priority. So who decides what is relevant and irrelevant? Even to bring in specific classifications and categorisations in research is against the very spirit of higher education. Research is also critique, dissent and the right to ask questions. The moment you start deciding what areas of research one should limit oneself to, where is the academic freedom of the researcher?” Pillai told The Sunday Express.

This week, CUK issued a clarification to its March 13 circular, saying that by “national priorities” it meant research that was useful to society. CUK V-C Gopakumar declined to comment, and directed queries to the university Registrar. The Sunday Express could not reach the CUK Registrar.

  

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Comment on this article

  • S. Francis, Udupi

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    Dear PhD aspirants,
    Henceforth please submit your thesis on National Priority topics, for example, research on cow bhakthi, Hindutva, saffronization, fekuism.
    Unfortunately, there couldn't stop Kanaiyah taking PhD. They tried their best to stop him. But he is like a fire and they knew touching him will burn them.
    Again and again Feku proved that, he has a big bunch of jokers in his gang. One among is this Joker Javdekar. He talks less and laughs more like a circus joker.
    That is why I always tell, education is very important to become a real leader. Or else you will lead the country to disaster like Feku Modi.
    God save PhD walas.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bhakthas, Mangalore

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    Congratulations everyone.. We are now well on course on becoming a dictator state like North Korea...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh, Mangalore

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    National priority...topics will be How to fool public , Lies , Fake, Colour , Flowers , Black & White money etc

    DisAgree Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • nitin, kodagu

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    HRD is afraid of Kanaiya from JNU

    DisAgree [3] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rathan, Mangalore

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    Nitin
    Can you give me the education (qualification) of that person. And for how long he is in JNU and what is his age and what he is presently studying?

    DisAgree [24] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Naresh Shenoy, Mumbai

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    Rathan, Mangalore

    First tell the education qualification of chaiwala who is ruling ? then we will give you his details

    DisAgree [2] Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse

  • Moideen, Surathkal

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    Naresh Shenoy, Mumbai

    You cant ask this about PM as he is elected democratically. Now don't say that it is EVM adjustment as you guys don't have anything else to tell

    Kanaiya is a different story and that too he supports Pakistan .............

    You please don't mess up India-Pakistan problems.....

    And more over please show some respect to PM as he is of India ..........and not Pakistan

    DisAgree [19] Agree [4] Report Abuse

  • Gladson, Udupi

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    Rathan Kanaiah is far more educated than the PM and our HRD minister. He has secured Doctorate despite present government creating obstacles on his academics. Don't worry about the time he spent in JNU. He got admitted to JNU’s Centre for African Studies in School of International Studies in 2011 in the integrated MPhil/PhD course where MPhil is for two years and PhD for for five years. He was the first one in his batch to finish viva and despite all the obstacles, he has completed his doctorate on time. So don't worry about his qualification and merit. Worry about searching answers for his uncomfortable questions that has even rattled our Chor Chowkidar too.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse


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