Romila Thapar Critiques the Decimation of Academic Standards in India's Social Sciences
Historian Romila Thapar critiques the decline in academic standards at Jawaharlal Nehru University and other Indian social science centers over the past decade. She highlights issues like substandard faculty appointments, political control over education, and manipulative history teaching methods. Thapar calls for preserving academic freedom and intellectual creativity.
- Country:
- India
Renowned historian Romila Thapar has voiced concern over the sharp decline in academic standards at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and other social science institutions across India in the past decade. Speaking at the Kapila Vatsyayan Memorial Lecture, she criticized the appointment of substandard faculty and political influence over educational content.
Thapar highlighted incidents such as the 2020 armed mob attack on JNU's campus and the arrest of students for opposing authority as clear indicators of intensified political control stifling intellectual creativity. She stressed the need for educational freedom to foster independent thought and true understanding of society.
Discussing the state of history education, Thapar condemned the resurgence of colonial theories, including notions of Aryan supremacy and the Two-Nation Theory. She emphasized the importance of competent teaching that encourages questioning and comprehension, essential for nurturing Indian pluralism and democracy.
(With inputs from agencies.)
Google News