Excerpts from the Sixth H L Parwana Memorial Lecture “A Reconsideration
of Gandhian Economics” on 16 January, 2008

In recent years there appears to be a resurgence of interest in what may be called ’Gandhian economics’. Gandhiji first enunciated some of these ideas about a hundred years ago. These are contained in his Hind Swaraj published in the columns of the ’Indian Opinion’ of South Africa, which he himself edited. He wrote it in 1909 during a voyage from London to South Africa. It was later published as a booklet. Gandhiji’s economic ideas continued to evolve over the next four decades, and especially after he returned to India for good at the age of 45. He altered some of his more extreme positions on, say, machinery, but there were a number of core formulations on which his conviction was unchanged.

In 1941-42 the well known economist J. J. Anjaria observed: ’When the history of economic thought in India in recent times comes to be written Gandhi’s name will certainly occupy a place of honour in it’. Yet this assessment has not been generally shared by the community of mainstream Indian economists in Independent India. Gandhian economics has neither received the recognition it deserves in University curricula in India nor has it been accorded the professional recognition that is its due.

There are several aspects of Gandhian economics that make it a unique body of thought. The force of the Gandhian approach lies in its remarkable originality and stark simplicity. Here we put together some major features of Gandhiji’s thoughts.

First, Gandhiji’s notion of economic development in India was definitely centred on the idea of decentralisation that would aid the process of upliftment of the rural countryside. The key idea was to offer gainful employment to all able bodied individuals. Gandhiji was clear in his mind that village and small scale industries be adequately developed to provide gainful employment to all rural folk in their own setting. This would obviate the haphazard growth of unplanned urban clusters that are polluted and unhygienic. Sixty years after embarking on planned economic development we are still far away from a situation where everyone has gainful employment along with a modicum of dignity. The Gandhian approach would first and foremost attempt to address this question.

Secondly, the Gandhian approach is one that is intrinsically concerned with man as opposed to machines. . Some have thought of Gandhiji’s economic formulations as those of a utopian idealist. There is some basis in this assessment. Clearly Gandhi’s thoughts do not provide answers to all the practical problems of a modern economy. Yet it offers pointers to a way of intervening in society that we would ignore to our own detriment.

Two further features of the Gandhian mode ought to assure for it a very special place in the history of economic thought. They also happen to have substantial contemporary relevance. First, Gandhi advocated the precept of ’voluntary limitation of wants’ to take care of one’s need and not greed. This is a counterpoise to the entire edifice of mainstream economic thinking which is based on the notion of a continuous expansion of the goods space to satisfy unlimited desires. It is possible to maintain that modern economic theory is concerned with wants and not needs and this is at the source of the capitalist rat race which ultimately debases the human spirit. Another argument in favour of limiting wants is the adverse moral consequences of economic growth. This is not to suggest that Gandhi advocated pauperism. This he decidedly did not, for he believed that it would only lead to moral degradation. It is conceivable that voluntary limitation of wants may yet turn out to be the single major Gandhian insight that could dictate the agenda of the long term sustainability of the eco system by focusing on conserving resources rather than squandering them.

The second has to do with the idea of focusing on the well being of the poorest and weakest member of society that is contained in Gandhi’s ’talisman’. He writes: ’I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by it? Will it restore him to a control over his life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to Swaraj for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away’. This was one of the last notes that Gandhi left behind in 1948. It was articulated at least a decade before John Rawls’ early writings advocating the need to focus on the well being of the worst off member of society. This idea, later developed in Rawls’ ’A Theory of Justice’ published in 1971, was to profoundly alter the course of theoretical welfare economics. It is worth underlining how Gandhiji had independently thought if articulating the same idea which came naturally to him because it was an intrinsic part of his moral view of the world.

Pulin B. Nayak, Direcor, Delhi School of Economics

National Conference “Towards a New Understanding of North East India”
on 23–25 January, 2008

A National Conference on “Towards a New Understanding of North East India”, organized by North East India Studies Programme (NEISP), SSS, JNU in collaboration with IGNCA, and sponsored by ICSSR, UPOAE, JNU, and CAS-CSSS, JNU was held from 23-25 January, 2008. This was the first initiative by NEISP to begin dialogue and discussion on the hitherto marginalized North East region of India. Since School of Social Science like the School of Language, Literature & Culture Studies hosts a large number of students hailing from the North East and also scholars researching on various aspects of the region, the initiative assumed significant importance. The Conference comprised of nine sessions focusing on the issues of Region, Ethnicity, Language, Culture, Religion, Gender, Tradition, Modernity, and Development. Resource persons from all over India specializing in various fields on the North East were invited to speak at the Conference. These included eminent Scholars, Social Scientists, noted Writers, Journalists and Bureaucrats.

The Inaugural session witnessed the release of Professor Tiplut Nongbri’s book Gender, Matriliny & Entrepreneurship: The khasis of North East India (Zubaan, 2008). Professor Tiplut Nongbri, Convenor, NEISP introduced the conference followed by addresses from Dr. Kalyan Chakravarty, Member Secretary, IGNCA, Professor P.N. Srivastava and Professor Mrinal Miri, Former VC of NEHU. The speakers focused on the general misconceptions about the North East and the need to re-look at the various economic and developmental models. Professor Miri advocated in his Keynote Address a strong focus on the creation of a condition for stable peace (and not necessarily increased prosperity) while at the same time providing education that would lead to enhancement of the self in order to fill in the moral gap that has intruded into the region.

In the first Session on 23 January, 2008 “Is Northeast a Region?”, the economic, political and cultural dimensions and implications of the consideration of the North East as a region was the focus. Prof. Virginius Xaxa, Delhi University, located the consideration of North East as a region as external and vested in economic determinism. Professor B.S. Butola, JNU, questioned whether it was the geographical determinants that identified a region as such. Dr. Manjeet Barua, Delhi University and Dr. Bimol Akoijam, CSDS too problematised the construct of North East as a region, linking it to economic imperatives and the State’s need for control.

There were two sessions on “Ethnicity, Identity Formation and Movements” which dealt with the heterogeneity and the various political expressions seen in the North East. The majority of the papers agreed to a certain degree that identities are constructed. Professor A.C. Sinha, Retd. Professor of Sociology, NEHU, discussed the historical and sociological contours of the inclusion of the Nepalis within the Indian social structure. Dr. V.P. Singh, Assam University, interrogated the categories of caste, tribe and class in the North Eastern context and wondered as to the applicability of these terms in the strict sense of the word. Dr. Joy Pachuau, JNU highlighted the construction of the Mizo identity through the use of myth while Ms. Ivy Imogen Hansdak, Jamia Milia University, hinted at the possible discrimination of migrants in the case of the tea-garden labourers of Assam. In summing up, Professor Emeritus T.K. Oommen viewed the tension in the North East as a result of the tension between binary opposites or dichotomies like insider/outsider and majority/minority.

The next session “Ethnicity, Identity Formation and Movements-II” continued with the discourse on identity. Professor Sajal Nag, Assam University, pointed out the politics of exclusion and inclusion in the Naga Movement. Mr. Th. Tarunkumar, Editor in Chief, Easter Quarterly, spoke on globalization and its impact on the assertion of ethnic identity. Professor Samir Das, Calcutta University, discussed the flexibility in the boundaries of communities. Dr. Bhagat Oinam, JNU, tried to understand the tensions between state, civil society and non-state activities. Professor S.K. Chaube highlighted certain other issues in ethnic formation in colonial North East India, and questioned the application of terms such as globalization for the North East and stressed on the need to re-look at it.

The second day started with the Session “Language, Religion and Culture”. This session brought out pertinent micro studies highlighting the complexity of the North East situation. Professor Anvita Abbi, JNU, pointed out the uniqueness of the linguistic conditions and enumerated the linguistic richness in terms of morphology while Professor Pralay Kanungo, JNU, shows the various religious contestations in Arunachal Pradesh. Dr. Sanghamitra Misra, Jamia Milia Islamia, on the other hand, highlighted the colonial agenda in the construction of a space as a borderland and the use of this identity to their advantage in turn by the colonized. Ms. Juanita Kakoty, JNU, brought out the dynamics of the region as a space for religious contestation Assam.

Session V, “Gender Issues and Emerging Challenges”, examined the issue of continual patriarchal practices despite the presumption of gender equality in the North East as Professor Manorama Sharma, NEHU showed in her paper. She used sayings and narratives to validate her point taking the case of Assam and Mizoram. Ms. Patricia Mukhim, IWRC, Shillong tackled the issue of the political invisibility of women in general and movements in particular, its relationship with questions of political authority and the possible reasons behind this.

In the next session “Tradition and Modernity”, Dr. Rajesh Dev, Women’s College, Shillong looked at ethnic conflict management techniques undertaken in the nation state to administer the demands of diversity in the North East. He suggested a better way of redirecting conflict through cultural components and cross-cultural cooperation. Dr. Athiko Kaisii, Jamia Milia Islamia questioned the democratic process taking place in the North East and the nature of representation that has lost its credibility. Dr. Aphun Kamei, Jamia Milia Islamia examined the historical evolution of the Zeliangrong movement from political to religious to social identity movement.

In the following session “Development: Issues and Challenges”, Dr. Rohan D’Souza, JNU emphasized on the neglect of historical differences in development policies in the North East and stressed on the need to ’listen, learn and understand the other’. Professor Amar Yumnam, Manipur University pointed out that developmental technologies are not congruent with the traditional institutions and geography. There is a need for understanding the voice from the margins, as Professor Monirul Hussain, Guwahati University showed. Dr. Prasenjit Biswas, JNU argued that developmental technologies cannot lead to integration. Mr. Sanjoy Hazarika, C-NES, New Delhi emphasized on the importance of law and order in the area for development.

In the last session on 25 January, 2008 there was an IGNCA panel discussion on “Culture as a Constitutive Element of Development”. Dr. Lokendra Arambam, Manipur University called for a development based on dignity and freedom against the use of violence and brute force. Each of the speakers discussed the importance of culture in providing development to the region. Dr. Sobita Devi, Dept. of Arts & Culture, Govt. of Manipur called for organizing oral traditions and folklores in linking the different tribes together while Ms. Mamang Dai, eminent writer, felt that there is a need for tribes to identify with their culture. Professor P.S. Ramakrishnan, JNU, emphasized on the effective use of natural cultural landscape for development. Dr. Kunjesdwari asked for using archaeology as a tool in developing local cultures.

The valedictory session reflected on how various papers historicized the discourse contributing to a new conceptual representation of North East India.

All the sessions were marked by impressive presence of students and faculty members from across Centres of School of Social Sciences and also from other schools. The papers were followed by intense and constructive discussions. The Conference was successful in presenting the diverse and heterogeneous complexity of the North East. Touching on the most pressing problems facing the area today, the conference contributed to a new understanding of North East India.

Lalgoulian, Research Scholar,
Centre for the Study of Social Systems, JNU

Three Women Writers at JNU – 4 February, 2008

Three Indian English women writers Anuradha Marwah, Priya Sarukkai Chabria and Susan Visvanathan were invited to the Centre for English Studies, on 4 February 2008, to discuss their latest book releases and share their views on the contemporary Indian English writings, specifically on women writers. Anuradha Marwah, from Zakir Husain College, Delhi University was present with her latest release Dirty Picture, Priya Sarukkai Chabria author-poet with Generation 14 and Susan Visvanathan from the Centre for Sociology, JNU, with Phosphorous and Stone and The Seine at Noon.

Anuradha Marwah read an extract from her novel Dirty Picture. Before beginning she gave a brief outline as to how she chanced upon the subject of her novel. She put forth to us her own journey which started from a story accompanied by a picture in a newspaper, a story of sexual exploitation by politicians. The novel speaks of one such incident about two sisters where one of them is captured in a compromising situation, only to be threatened later. As the writer read on from her novel one could not help but be all ears! Her style, one could gather was both simple and interesting, a blend communicating actions powerfully.

Priya Sarukkai Chabria’s Generation 14 as she read from it seemed more a blend of different genres of scientific and historical writings. What strikes us is the title of the novel and her choice of subject, futuristic in its borrowing from science, yet backward looking. The protagonist is a fourteenth generation clone who looks deep into the recesses of history through different generations to create its own identity. This makes for a continuous time travel into history long forgotten a store-house of information. She weaves history into the scientific landscape of her novel, as much of the clone’s reminiscing comes from different stages of the years gone by as one could gather from the excerpt she read .

The author-poet confessed that she took close to seven years to complete this novel, writing as and when she came across some interesting point for her novel. Therefore it necessarily wasn’t a continuous process rather more like a travel at a slow pace!
Apart from her novel she also read some lines from her poem, which is meant to be in conjunction to the poems written by Kalidasa in his Meghdutta.

Susan Visvanathan, who had two releases lately, was the last among the writers to read from her novel, Phosphorous and Stone. The novel is a story of companionship and love. She confessed that sociology and fiction writing did not have much in common and that the former had to be put aside for the latter to come into its own as a piece of  fiction.

All the three novelists had different things to speak of and convey through their novels and in a unique style of their own that one was left questioning the authenticity of the comment that Indian English Writing is now ’passe’ and has nothing more to contribute to the world. But, putting that aside, the interactive session raised some interesting points of discussion as, for example, how open is the contemporary writing scenario for women writing about their own sexuality. There are still many areas yet unexplored, be it in the women writers’ choice of subject or its treatment.

Anshu Kujur, Centre for English Studies, SLL&CS

Excerpts from Vice-Chancellor’s speech delivered on 23 January, 2008
during University Court Meeting

I have great pleasure in welcoming our Chancellor, Professor Yash Pal, Hon’ble Members of Parliament and other distinguished members, my colleagues and officers to the Thirty-Fifth meeting of the Court of Jawaharlal Nehru University. This University is now known as a leading institution of higher education in India and also well recognized for this abroad. I am happy to state that we are able to maintain a high standard in education with a deep commitment to social welfare. Indeed this University is today regarded as a model of excellence combined with social commitment. I thank you all for helping us in attaining this.

Now, let me turn to the academic, administrative and financial affairs of the University.

Since the last meeting many new buildings have been constructed on the campus and many infrastructure facilities have been created. We have also renovated/modernized many existing structures. I may mention a few major projects: The building for the School of Physical Sciences is almost complete and the School will occupy it soon. The Language Laboratory Complex, an adjunct of the School of Language, Literature & Culture Studies, is nearing completion. The University Science Instrumentation Centre (USIC) will be moving to a new building, adjoining the Advanced Instrumentation Facility building, resulting in additional space of one more floor for the School of Computer and Systems Sciences. The School of Arts and Aesthetics have got an additional building for its class room, faculty room and exhibition hall. The School of Biotechnology building has been extended.

A new building for the Special Centre of Molecular Medicine and lecture hall complex with seven separate big lecture halls is underway.

Class rooms have been renovated keeping in mind the requirement of a twenty first century university. The contrast would be visible to those who have seen the class rooms before renovation.

The whole academic complex now has power back up, so that in the event of power failure the academic activity isn’t disturbed.

As far as the much awaited e-governance is concerned, procurement and installation of both hardware and software have been completed and staff training is going on. … this prestigious project should be through very soon.

Our aim is eventually to improve the infrastructure facility to international standards of housing, library, office, computer facility, etc. Concurrently, the University is working on common inter school courses and a common time table. A committee chaired by Prof Alok Bhatacharya, Dean, SIT has been set up to suggest new guidelines.

In order to realize the objectives set above, the University has prepared an ambitious Eleventh Plan document and submitted to UGC. Under the Eleventh Plan, the University has approached the University Grants Commission for financial support for introduction of certain new programmes of study, viz. MA in Philosophy in the School of Social Sciences, M.Phil/Ph.D. programme in three separate streams viz., Visual, Performance and Film Studies in the School of Arts and Aesthetics. Integrated M.Sc./Ph.D. programme in the Schools of Life Sciences and Biotechnology and the Special Centre for Molecular Medicine; Ph.D. programme in Chemistry and Mathematics in the School of Physical Sciences; an M.Tech programme in Statistical Computing in the School of Computer & Systems Sciences; and Diploma Course in Advanced Analytical Instrumentation and Research Techniques in the Advanced Instrumentation Facility.

Under the Infrastructure development we have proposed new buildings for accommodating the post doctoral scholars, new building for the School of Information technology, an additional building for the School of Indian Languages, additional residences for faculty and non-teaching staff and also for the visiting faculty. We have also sought funds for renovation of some of the buildings which need attention. Under Campus Development, we wish to have a convention centre, an additional guest house, children’s parks, up gradation of faculty club, crèche and yoga centre.

We have also sought 435 additional faculty positions, 120 teaching positions and over 600 non-technical positions.

Corresponding to the increase in the faculty strength, we require additional funding for equipment as well for all the schools and administrative support. We also wish to develop teaching and research activities in certain areas: Nanoscience in the School of Physical Sciences, Complex Systems Studies and Chemical Biology in the School of Information Technology; in areas like Natural Hazards, Climate Change and Energy & Environment in the School of Environmental Sciences; In the Centre for Historical Studies, Contemporary History, Non-Indian History, Studies in Textual Tradition: Persian/Sanskrit/Pali/Prakrit manuscripts and texts and Archaeology and History Museum Project; in the Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, Higher Education in a Knowledge Society: Concerns and Challenges; under the auspices of Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, Programme on Holistic Epidemiology for Public Health and Health Systems/Services, Resources and Research Hub; establishment of a new School of Indian Languages, teaching and research in languages like Greek, Swahili, Hebrew, Polish, Czech, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Ukrainian Kazak, Uzbek, etc. a new programme in Culture Studies at the M.Phil/Ph.D. level in the School of Language, Literature & Culture Studies; a Programme for North East India Studies a multi-disciplinary approach with the involvement of a few Schools, etc.. We shall also plea for a media research centre. Under new extension activities and outreach programmes, Summer/Winter Schools for the School and College teachers and students, developing video conferencing facilities, community art education, etc. etc. We also propose to create additional bandwidth, LAN expansion; approval for setting up of a campus radio, additional Library facilities and in the community sphere, day care centres, etc. are also in our requirements.

These proposals were formulated after deliberations through a university level coordination committee representing various programmes which in turn took note of the recommendations of various schools and centers.

I now turn to activities during 2006-07 and thereafter.

On behalf of the Executive Council of the University, I have great pleasure in placing before you the 37th Annual Report for the period 2006-07 in fulfillment of the requirement of Statute 12(1) of the University Act and Statutes of the University.

Admission: During the reporting period, the University conducted entrance examination in 70 centres, including two overseas centres: Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Kathmandu (Nepal). In addition, our University has been conducting the Combined Entrance Examination on behalf of twenty-eight universities for M.Sc. Biotechnology; nine universities for M.Sc. (Agri), M.V.Sc (Biotech) and two universities for M.Tech (Biotech).

As in the previous years, the number of candidates seeking admission, both Indian and candidates from abroad, to JNU has steadily been rising, which one will gather on going through the statistics presented.

Through the Entrance Examination (2006-2007), the University admitted 1484 students from all parts of India, besides 109 foreign nationals representing thirty-four countries. Currently the statistics for academic year 2007-08 is available. As per this statatistics, the total number of students admitted is: 1492, besides 101 foreign students coming from thirty-six countries.

From the data, one can draw the conclusion that the number of women students admitted to JNU has been increasing steadily. Similarly, during the last four academic sessions, the University has not only been able to fill in the seats meant for SC/ST students, but marginally exceeded the statutory minimum intake limit. We have also admitted more students from the middle and lower income groups.

My sincere thanks to the combined efforts of the Director of Admissions, Professor Harjit Singh, Coordinator (Evaluation), Dr. S. Chandrasekaran and the competent team of officers and staff who supported them. I wish to place on record my gratitude and appreciation for Professor Harjit Singh’s dedication and commitment and congratulate him for the excellent work.

In 2006-07, the student strength was 5506. Of them, 3061 students, belonged to M.Phil/M.Tech/Ph.D. programme of study; 1570 students were enrolled for MA/MSc/MCA; 614 students in the undergraduate programme and the balance, i.e. 261 belonged to part-time programmes of study like Certificate/Diploma/Advanced Diploma in languages.

Women students numbered 1878, i.e. one-third of the total strength of the university. Men students were 3628 in number.

In terms of admission of students under the reservation to SC/ST/PH category, 703 students come from the Scheduled Caste; 425 students come from the Scheduled Tribe and 116 students under the Physically Challenged category. Although, JNU at present does not have reservation for students coming from Other Backward Classes (OBC), due to weightage given to them through affirmative admission policy, we have been able to admit 288 students under this category. Foreign national students work out to 248, while the general category students is 3,726.

Publications: The faculty of the University has published about 200 books, more than 150 chapters in edited volumes, published over 525 research papers/articles and contributed over 250 papers in conferences/seminars, besides over 230 articles in newspapers, online publications, media publications, etc. I am confident that with up gradation of infrastructure facilities, the quality of publications of our faculty colleagues is bound to further improve. Our faculty also participated in a number of seminars, conferences and workshops and has delivered lectures within and outside the country.
About 260 research projects are successfully running during this reporting period. The funding both from Indian and foreign funding agencies is Rs.14.44 crores. Project funds considerably support our M.Phil/Ph.D programme.

The University Library, on which the academic life of any institution of higher education depends, is being modernized. A new centrally air conditioned reading hall with two hundred computers, already acquired, is shaping up well. The collection stands over 5.33 lakh volumes and the cost of acquisition of books is a little over Rs.28 lakhs and the value of journal subscriptions stands at Rs.242 lakhs for 895 journals. We have now started subscribing most journals in both print and digital forms.

The Academic Staff College conducted seven refresher courses and four orientation courses in different disciplines assigned to it.

The faculty strength in March was 449; which includes 183 Professors, 145 Associate Professors and 121 Assistant Professors. There are 15 Emeritus Professors and recently Professors Asis Datta and G.K. Chadha, both formerly Vice-Chancellors and Professors Amit Bhaduri and T.K. Oommen have been conferred the title Professor Emeritus. The total non-teaching staff, including officers is 1374.

Awards/Recognitions of faculty: The University is fortunate enough to have such quality faculty on its strength, the awards and recognitions have been steadily rising over a period of time. I will only highlight a few important ones and request you to see the Annual Report for full details.

Two of my distinguished academic colleagues Professor Brij Gopal of the School of Environmental Sciences and Professor Rais Akhtar, ICSSR National Fellow attached to the School of Social Sciences, have been contributors of important papers to the Inter-governmental Panel on Climatic Change (IPCC), chaired by another distinguished Indian academic Professor R.K. Pachauri, shared the Nobel Prize this year along with Mr. Al-Gore, US Vice-President. I am sure all of you would join me in appreciating their contribution and give them our very best wishes to achieve more laurels. Recently Professor GK Chadha, formerly Vice-Chancellor, JNU, currently an Emeritus Professor, has been conferred with D.Litt. (Honoris causa) degree by Panjab University, Chandigarh.

I have pleasure in sharing with you the news that Dr. S. Chandrasekaran is taking over as the Vice-Chancellor of Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, a deemed University in Maharashtra. Professor Mahendra P. Lama of the School of International Studies has taken over as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sikkim, Professor Riyaz Punjabi of the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences has taken over as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kashmir. Professor Purushottam Agarwal, Centre for Indian Languages, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies has joined as the Member of the Union Public Service Commission. Let us wish them good luck in their assignment.

Patents: Professors R. Madhubala and B.N. Mallik both of the School of Life Sciences have obtained Patents for their research work.

Before I highlight some achievements of Science schools, I wish to inform the members about a recent survey of Biosciences that our Science school publications have highest impact factor among all the universities.

In the end, let me add the awards and recognitions that I have received for my contributions to education in general and economics in particular. I have been honoured by election as the President of Indian Economic Association, and re-elected for the second term of four years as the President of the Indian Association for research in National Income and Wealth. I have also been awarded Socrates International Understanding Award by the European Business Council.

Special Lectures: The Schools and the Centres held a number of conferences, seminars, etc. and invited a number of distinguished academics, diplomats, senior bureaucrats and persons from public life. I may mention the names of a few eminent persons who gave distinguished and memorial lectures: Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar, Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairperson, Planning Commission, Professor Irfan Habib, eminent historian and a few others. HE Dr. Khalid Bin Mohd. Al-Angari, Minister of Higher Education, Saudi Arabia, Professor Saifuddin Soz, Union Minister for Water Resources, Mr. Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario Province, Canada, HE Dalai Lama, HE Ms Helene Tremblay, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education, Quebec and a few other distinguished visitors also visited the University.

Achievements of Students: The students of the University have also distinguished themselves in academics and a few of their achievements, I would like to highlight.

• Fox International Fellowships of Yale University have been awarded to:

– Mr. Kanakara, J.A., CESP, SSS (for the year 2006)
– Mr. Nirmalya Syam, CILS, SIS (for the year 2006)
– Mr. Fazil Jamal, CILS, SIS (for the year 2007)
– Mr. Avinash Anil Godole, CEAS, SIS (for the year 2007)

• Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (SYLFF) fellowships have been awarded to:

– Mr. Dhiraj Kumar Nite, CHS, SSS (for the year 2006)
– Ms. Manisha Singh, CSRD, SSS (for the year 2006)
– Mr. Biju, M.P., Centre for Philosophy, SSS (for the year 2007)
– Ms. Anjana Bakshi, CIL, SLL&CS (for the year 2007)

• Sat Paul Mittal Fellowships in Population Studies and Environmental Sciences have been awarded to:

– Mr. Chander Kumar Singh, SES (for the year 2006)
– Ms Divya Tiwari, SES (for the year 2006)
– S Moutushi Majumdar, CSRD, SSS (for the year 2007)

• Special Fellowships of JNU have been awarded to:

– Mr. Marchang Reimeingam, CSRD, SSS (for the year 2006)
– Ms. Pinki Maurya, CPS, SSS (for the year 2006)
– Mr. Sunil Kumar, CIL, SLL&CS (for the year 2006)
– Mr. Lokesh Kumar Gupta, CIL, SLL&CS (for the year 2006)
– Mr. Pritpal Singh Randhawa, CSSP, SSS (for the year 2007)
– Mr. Bansidhar Khosala, CSSS, SSS (for the year 2007)

• Y. J. Sithara N. Fernando, CITD, SIS, Jawaharlal Nehru scholarship

• Dharish David, CEAS, SIS, Mombusho Fellowship

• Shamshad Ahmad Khan, SIS HRD Scholarship, Japanese Government

• Korean Foundation Scholarships have been awarded to:

– Aribam Joy Sharma, R. Subramaniyan & Rahul Raj

• Brajesh Kumar SIS, Korea Foundation Field Trip Fellowship

• Sri Kanth, T., SIS, Korea Foundation Language Fellowship

• K.B. Aradhana, CEAS, SIS, Okita Memorial Scholarship

• Sajjad Zaheer and Razia Sajjad Zaheer Merit Awards have gone to:

– Ms. Shabnam Naz & Mr. Azimuddin of CIL, SLL&CS

• Delhi Urdu Academy Merit Awards have been awarded to:

– Ms. Shabnam Naz, Mr. Azimuddin & Mr. Mohd. Faisal all of CIL, SLL&CS

• Mr. Rahul Unni, CJK&NEAS, SLL&CS won Second Prize in the All India Japanese Language Speech Contest

• Ms. Alka Sharma, CJK&NEAS, SLL&CS was awarded Japan Foundation Language Institute Scholarship

• Japanese Government’s Monobukagakusho Scholarships have been won by:

– Ms. Gadgil Antara Ajit, Mr. Panayamparambil Nikhil, Mr. Arun Shyam, Mr. Kumar Shailendra and Ms. Anshu Sharma all students of CJK&NEAS, SLL&CS

• Mr. Sudeep Karmokar, CJK&NEAS, SLL&CS was awarded Scholarship of Heiwa Nakajima Foundation, Waseda University, Tokyo,

• POSCO TJ Park Foundation Scholarships have been awarded to:

– Ms Jaya Agarwal, Mr Ranjeet Kumar, Mr. Himanshu Joshi, Mr. Yasir Barmaky,
– Mr. Amit Kumar, Ms. Preeti Singh, Mr. Srijan Kumar, Mr. Pawan Kumar,
– Ms Apoorva Mukherjee, Mr. Hemant Dubey & Mr. Manish Kumar

• Korean Foundation Scholarships were awarded to:

Mr. Abhineet Raj, Mr. Saurabh Singh, Mr. Mukesh Kumar Jaiswal,
Mr. Manish Kumar Barnwal, Ms K.H. Roopa, Mr. Aditya Singh & Ms. Shivani

Students’ Activities: Ms. Kamala Kumari, Ph.D. student, SIS won the silver medal in the Delhi Power Lifting Championships 2006.

University Health Centre: The students of the University have access to the University Health Centre where consultation with physicians and specialists is possible in two spells, i.e., 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Besides these general facilities, specialized OPDs such as Dermatologist, Medicine, Cardiology, Gynae and Dental, Psychiatric are available to the residents of the University.

Welfare of Weaker Sections: The welfare of the weaker sections is looked after by the Equal Opportunity Office. Besides, reservation in admissions, reservation also in the hostel accommodation exists. The University has constructed a 100-room hostel for SC boys and 100-room accommodation for SC girls with the support of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Two more hostels for SC students with the support of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Planning Commission and the University has ensured hostel accommodation is available to all SC/ST students admitted in regular programmes of study. The University is also run remedial courses for SC/ST students to make up their deficiency in English and core courses in each School/Centre. Faculty Coordinators extend personalize assistance. The University has also devised a special scheme for SC/ST students as well as those from weaker sections of the society to help them to prepare for the entrance test for admission to various programmes of study.

University Administration: The University administration with about 1,500 staff and officers, is assisted by a few committees, like the Campus Development Committee, the Security Advisory Committee, the Transport Committee, etc. which have representatives from all the three components of the University community.

Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Advanced Study (JNIAS): JNIAS, which functions on the pattern of Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, invites scholars to pursue their academic activities by offering fellowship and by extending hostel, library, computer facilities, etc. I may mention a few names: Professor Daud Robert Ali of the School of Oriental and African Studies, UK, Professor Alexandra Safronova of the Moscow State University, Moscow, Professor Johannes Dillinger of Germany, Professor Gail Olivia Pearson, University of Sydney, Australia, Professor Norbert Schurer, Foundation for International Education, UK, and Professor Govindjee of the University of Illinois at Urbana, USA. Some more eminent scholars have been offered and they are expected to join soon: Professor Sudhir Kakkar of India, Professor Robert Douglas Jessop, Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies, Lancaster University, UK; Professor Ngai Ling Sum also of Lancaster University but from the Department of Politics and International Relations; Professor Brian Roger Tomlinson of the School of Oriental and African Studies, UK, Professor Mathew McCartney of the Faculty of Law and social Sciences also from the School of Oriental and African Studies, Professor Edgar Bauer of Germany, Professor Laurent Pordie, French Institute, Pondicherry, Professor Allaine Cerwonka, Department of gender Studies, Central European University, Budapest, Professor David Weberman of the Department of Philosophy also from the Central European University and Professor Rajmohan Gandhi.

University Science Instrumentation Centre (USIC): It caters to the research needs of Science Schools in particular and other in general. An unique experiment within the university system - the Advanced Instrumentation Facility (AIF), which is meant to be a common facility for all the science schools and special centres, -is now expanding into a fine tuned facility. It has acquired sophisticated equipments/ instruments like, Confocal Microscope, XRD for Protein and XRD for Powder, FTIR, TEM, Scanning Electron Microscope, ED X-ray Fluorescence Spectrophotometer, WD X-ray Fluorescence Spectrophotometer, CD Spectrophotometer, Fully automatic Liquid nitrogen plant, Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrophotometer, Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectrophotometer, Time Resolved Spectrophotometer, etc.

In conclusion, I would like to thank the Chancellor for chairing this meeting. I would like to request the hon’ble members to join me to acknowledge the great contribution that he has made in the working of the University and to the members for sparing time and attending this meeting and for sharing with us their wisdom and experience, which has nurtured the functioning of the University. I would like to thank all the members of the Court in sparing time in attending this meeting and giving guidance to the University. In the end, I would be failing in my duty, if I don’t acknowledge the contributions made by the faculty for their dedication and commitment, officers and staff for their excellent performance.

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