Deradicalising Universities

The latest strike against public universities in general and social science education in particular has come in the form of the recent cutbacks in funding from the University Grants Commission (UGC). Various social science centres of research and teaching, set up by the UGC under the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007–12), are struggling for survival following the discontinuation of five year plans. The UGC’s ambivalent stance on funding these centres has threatened the futures of many teachers, researchers and students, as well as the emerging disciplines and discourses.

Spread across major public universities in India, these social science research centres have varying levels of dependence on plan funds. In some cases, they have been turned into departments at universities. In other places, they have received funding from state governments and other sources. However, in universities where such centres are entirely dependent on plan funds, they face the risk of closure or reduction of capacity.