If you are a regular reader of newspaper editorials – you would have noticed columnists who write on matters of Indian politics, policy research, mythology, pop-culture etc. Of late, so many scholars of ‘Indian studies’ have come from foreign (mainly US) universities.
Is this because there are no Indian institutes where ‘India’ is being researched? Not quite – we have the JNU, the BHU, the AMU, and numerous departments of social studies in all universities from Ashok University (Gwalior) to Delhi University. Then why this dearth of scholars in Indian matters, who practice their profession in India?
Not being from the academic circles – I can only make an informed guess based upon limited knowledge that I have of the culture in academic institutes (which I studied in) and internet research (the links are strewn in the text below).
Due to heavy politicization of student community following the Janta Party movement of the 1970s-80s[1][2], the academia in our universities too have got plagued by politics. There is a constant battle for one-upmanship (through networking – not by academic research)! Increasingly, every appointment – from Vice Chancellor, to Chairs, to the lowest levels of professors – is made on influence of politicians or through your ‘relationship’ with the appointer[1][2].
Another problem is that, institutions set-up for the purpose of policy research (like the JNU or NCERT), have increasingly become divided between ‘political faiths’[1][2] and have to face intense interference by the government. From what one sees in television debates where scholars from these institutes participate – the scholar’s point of view is less influenced by independent studies conducted, more by his/her ‘allegiance’ to a particular political ideology (right wing, left wing, capitalist etc).
Whatever the reasons, one cannot but rule out that lack of academic understanding of India, by scholars who practice in India, is very harmful. However, talented and well dedicated our Diaspora scholars might be – we need research based out of India for real progress.
Footnote: A more serious research [1][2] in Indian University system is ironically done by Philip G. Altbach from the State University of New York at Buffalo, New York, U.S.A.
Is this because there are no Indian institutes where ‘India’ is being researched? Not quite – we have the JNU, the BHU, the AMU, and numerous departments of social studies in all universities from Ashok University (Gwalior) to Delhi University. Then why this dearth of scholars in Indian matters, who practice their profession in India?
Not being from the academic circles – I can only make an informed guess based upon limited knowledge that I have of the culture in academic institutes (which I studied in) and internet research (the links are strewn in the text below).
Due to heavy politicization of student community following the Janta Party movement of the 1970s-80s[1][2], the academia in our universities too have got plagued by politics. There is a constant battle for one-upmanship (through networking – not by academic research)! Increasingly, every appointment – from Vice Chancellor, to Chairs, to the lowest levels of professors – is made on influence of politicians or through your ‘relationship’ with the appointer[1][2].
Another problem is that, institutions set-up for the purpose of policy research (like the JNU or NCERT), have increasingly become divided between ‘political faiths’[1][2] and have to face intense interference by the government. From what one sees in television debates where scholars from these institutes participate – the scholar’s point of view is less influenced by independent studies conducted, more by his/her ‘allegiance’ to a particular political ideology (right wing, left wing, capitalist etc).
Whatever the reasons, one cannot but rule out that lack of academic understanding of India, by scholars who practice in India, is very harmful. However, talented and well dedicated our Diaspora scholars might be – we need research based out of India for real progress.
Footnote: A more serious research [1][2] in Indian University system is ironically done by Philip G. Altbach from the State University of New York at Buffalo, New York, U.S.A.
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