The 18th of August is some sort of an 'anniversary' for me! I joined on faculty Kirori Mal College, DU, on 18th August 1969. So today I complete 51 years as a DU teacher, and today is my 52nd Anniversary as a teacher!
Do I see any changes in the DU system during the last 50 plus years? Yes, I do, but not necessarily a change for the better! Salaries no doubt have gone up almost 150 times, but so have tensions and frustrations for thousands of teachers in the University and its colleges.
When I joined KMC I was less than 22 years of age. I almost literally walked into the job. So did hundreds of others without struggle. The system then was to help young and meritorious students to join as teachers, not to put impediments. Also, teachers of my generation and of even 25years after had no problems in appointments and promotions. But today? Over 4500 teachers are working in ad hoc arrangements with uncertain future; face stagnation- no, not even a single, promotion for at least 3500 teachers for 11 years. No teacher has so far been promoted to Pay Band 4 in the Career Advancement Scheme recommended in the 6th UGC PRC!!
When I joined in Aug 1969 it was in the Assistant Lecturer scale basic of Rs 300 pm. Total salary slip: Rs.450. Today the initial salary at joining is Rs 80000. But as I mentioned manifold salary increase is at the cost of manifold increase in tensions and frustrations. Heart cries to see teachers - married with children, some 45+ years of age, still in ad hoc positions! And many don't have even ad hoc relief, they struggle for guests’ positions. And this is happening in DU, a premiere Central University with an IoE tag?
On 18th Aug I joined, and just after two months in Oct 1969 I learnt Astt Lecturer cadre has been abolished! I felt devastated! I had left a very high paying management (Trainee) job with a prestigious company in Mumbai to join KMC. I was getting Rs 900 pm as stipend which was to increase to Rs 950 in 6 months’ time. My colleagues started congratulating me making me think how ridiculous, how sadists they are at my misery? It is only later I realised abolishing Assistant Lecturer cadre meant all such teachers have been elevated to full lectureship in the grade Rs. 400-950. Total salary increased to approx. Rs 580 pm. I felt like a king.
What are the other changes? Let me mention the most prominent ones. The first is the expansion in student’s intake. In the last 50 years the student’s intake in all the under-graduate and post-graduate courses in the formal stream has increased at least 8 times. But the academic infrastructure including faculty strength has lagged far far behind. As should happen in a Central University more than 50 % student in the formal stream are from outside Delhi.
It is pertinent to note that not a single UGC funded College has been added since 1967 when Laxmi Bai College was established. During Jana Sangh/BJP tenures 12 Delhi Govt fully funded Colleges were established which are now facing financial problems owing to political mischief!
Second, is the welcome contribution of women teachers to the faculty strength. Till almost 1970s end most of the women teachers were in the women colleges, very few in the co-educational ones. Almost the same was true in the University departments. The status began to change in 1980s. Girls/Women do better in studies, are more focused, have better academic results and therefore get selected as faculty in larger proportions.
Today I believe there must be 70%+ women teachers in our DU system. The same is true for girl students. They would far outnumber boys in DU system in almost all academic disciplines. And this is true not only of DU but everywhere in India. During the last six years I have observed this phenomenon everywhere, more particularly in States considered economically and socially backward.
Another prominent change is the exponential rise in the popularity of Commerce stream in DU since mid-1980s. This growth is phenomenal. It was accompanied by a corresponding decline in the popularity of 'Sciences'. Likewise, the Arts and Social Sciences stream has gone up on popularity map. After initial decline Science Courses are also looking up for the last 10 years. This may be the result of decline of interests in Engineering Course. Cut-off percentages, which are insanely going up, are the barometers of relative popularity.
Abolition of subsidiary subjects in Honours courses and converting BA and B Com Pass Courses to Programs was an academically progressive positive step.
Another noticeable change is successive generations of both students and teachers are far more techno savvy than the earlier ones. This is obvious because of huge progressive strides in digital and communication technologies. Interest in books and original references to sources of knowledge has declined; the canvass of 'informations' have widened. And of course, younger teachers look far smarter, more communicative, and are more prosperous looking (though tense) than those of earlier generations.
About the Vice Chancellors! Though DU has not done as bad as some other Central Universities but it is popularly believed that during the last 20 years every succeeding VC in DU has made the preceding one look brighter and more democratic. Their personal experimentation with academic structures have caused grievous injuries to teachers, students, academic processes,etc. For last 12 yrs everyone is suffering. The present incumbent has mastered a grand strategy - do nothing!
When I joined the university as a student in 1964 Dr.CD Deshmukh was the VC. Look at his career progression. First Finance Minister in Nehru Cabinet post independence, then UGC Chairman and then VC of DU! You can compare and contrast the status of other VCs. Earlier VK Rao was DU VC. But the VC we should be most obliged to is KN Raj who made a great pro academic, pro teachers n teaching team with the then DUTA President Sh Ruddar Dutt.
About Teacher Movement! I had been a teacher movement activist from mid-1972 onwards. Had been DUTA Secretary, Executive Committee member, elected teacher representative on DU EC & AC. DUTA and elected reps have played great role in the cause of teachers and teaching but during the last about 15 years the teacher movement has declined in strength and focus. Only two examples will suffice to establish that. The 12 fully Delhi Govt funded DU Colleges are not paying salaries to teachers and employees for the last 3 months. Teacher movement leadership is, if not complicit as most believe, clueless on how to pressurise Delhi Govt. VC doesn't hold EC and AC meets and doesn't feel the heat. But history of teacher movement is another issue which is close to my heart. I will write about that separately.
Hope Delhi University, its teachers, students, researchers and employees face this Covid scourge boldly and safely and see permanent appointments and promotions happen soon.
(From the Facebook Page. The writer is former member of the University Grants Commission)