At least two central universities in India’s North East – the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) and Tezpur University are in a state of suspended animation. In the case of NEHU, Shillong the Vice Chancellor, PS Shukla, is persona-non-grata in Meghalaya for his alleged acts of omission and commission and following a hunger strike by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) and the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) demanding his removal and replacement since November 2024. The student bodies and the NEHU Teachers’ Association have been demanding that Shukla be replaced by a person worthy of occupying the post of Vice Chancellor since the post demands sensitivity to local sentiments. Shukla was also accused of arbitrary appointment of officials, including the registrar. He has been functioning from the NEHU Guest House in Guwahati and sometimes from Delhi for a year now, which is unprecedented.
In Tezpur University, the Tezpur University Teachers’ Association (TUTA) had on September 25, this year, accused the Vice Chancellor, Shambhu Nath Singh of committing serious financial and administrative irregularities. They aver that these lapses have eroded the academic and institutional integrity of the University. One major grouse against the Tezpur VC is his insensitivity towards Assam singing sensation, Zubeen Garg who passed away in Singapore on September 19, 2025. Besides, the University Finance Department is run by an officer enjoying extended tenure without regular appointment and the abolition of the Pro-VC position. What has happened with all universities is that Vice Chancellors are appointed according to the diktat of the Rashtriya Swayam-Sevak Sangh (RSS) the alter ego of the BJP which has been in the seat of power since 2014. From the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Delhi which was known for its liberal eco-system promoting free-thinking, to every other government-run educational institution, the RSS now has a stranglehold over them. The idea is to promote the Hindutva ideology which negates everything that has held this country together for over six decades. The educational curriculum today is sought to be rewritten. The spirit of scientific enquiry is being subverted by alluding to myths as truths. History is being rewritten with the intent of pushing an agenda where Muslims are demonised.
While universities are supposed to engage in internationalisation efforts and collaborate with leading universities thereby fostering global partnerships and exchange programmes with universities around the world, most Indian universities today are involved in internal politicking which has muddied the academic environment. Indian universities are no longer free and independent. They are harangued by a complex regulatory framework characterised by a bureaucratic red tape, overbearing political interference and lack of institutional autonomy. In such a circumscribed environment how can it be expected that Indian universities would compete with their counterparts elsewhere. While appointing Vice Chancellors there is complete lack of transparency in the selection process. Merit is given a go by while political affiliation takes precedence. No wonder then that out of 70 universities that are ranked in both 2023 and 2024, 33 have gone up while 37 have plummeted and the number of Indian universities in the top 100 has dropped from four to one. This calls for a serious national debate.
