Prof. Anand Kumar, Chief Advisor Affairs, JNU
interviewed by Bhoomika Meiling for JNU News

Bhoomika: Tell us about your association with JNU.

Prof. Anand Kumar: I came to JNU in July, 1972 in strange conditions from Banaras Hindu University after completing my M. A. in Sociology. I was awarded the gold medal in B.H.U. for being the topper in the exams. And yet, because of my association with the student’s movement as the President of the Students Union, I was not allowed to proceed further with my studies at Banaras Hindu University. For me, coming to JNU was like getting a second life in academics. JNU accepted me despite my background and I’ve always been thankful for it.

From July 1972 to December 1974, I was here as a student in the M.Phil/ Ph.D programme in Sociology. In those two and half years, I had the opportunity to broaden my horizons. Those were very active years in the life of JNU and the nation also. It was the time of growing unrest all over the country on issues like unemployment, price-rise, problems of the education policy and corruption. Being a JNUite I had the chance to understand a variety of political tendencies in the country and the world because JNU from the very beginning had become the hub of activism in India. Right from Gunnar Myrdal and Joan Robinson to Jayaprakash Narayan and Kishen Pattanaik, people made it a point to come to JNU if they had something new to say. It was also a time of critical thinking due to J.P. movement. First there were protests by students in Gujarat against corruption at higher levels. Then came the student movement in Bihar. They all culminated in the Sampoorna Kranti Movement spearheaded by J.P himself.

Bhoomika: When did you join the Centre for the Study of Social Systems as a faculty member?

Prof. Anand Kumar: I was appointed Associate Professor in the CSSS in 1990 after teaching sociology at B.H.U. for 10 years. Soon I was made the Warden of Brahmaputra Hostel. Later I became Secretary and then President of JNUTA and FEDCUTA. I was elected as faculty representative in the first GSCASH. I have also served as Chairperson of CSSS. This has been a great opportunity for teaching and research, guiding students in their careers, representing the teachers, and contributing towards institutional well being.

Bhoomika: What were the landmark events of your student life while you were in JNU?

Prof. Anand Kumar: Class lectures, Cricket Matches, Student General Body Meetings and Election debates are all engraved in my memory. The campus life was very exciting. It was dazzling with brilliance of students and teachers. A high degree of democracy was a unique feature of the university culture. I remember one event particularly a Vice Chancellor-Students meet in 1972. All the eminent Professors were sitting with the Vice Chancellor, Mr. G. Parthasarthy. They had invited us to discuss the position of the University in context of our demands. It was like an open house. They gave patient hearing to our JNUSU President V. C. Koshy and others. After nearly 45 minutes of presentations by JNUSU about the logic of their demands the V.C. very patiently explained the university’s position. He also said that most of our demands could not be accepted. We decided then and there that if this was going to be the position of the university, then we were at a deadlock and we could not leave the VC’s Chamber without solutions to our problems. It was decided that we would not let anyone leave unless our demands were addressed. The ’sit in’ went on till late hours in the night. The news of the gherao went to the P. M. Smt. Indira Gandhi. Police did
come but was kept out of the campus. In spite of the gherao, Prof. Parthasarthy made it clear to the police and other authorities that the problem was internal to JNU and we did not need any external force to solve it. The students felt that as the authorities were being very democratic so we should not go beyond the limits of legitimate protest. The ’gherao’ was lifted as both sides agreed to have further discussion in a more peaceful setting.

I also remember the day when tariq Ali came to JNU in 1973. He was President of Cambridge University Student’s Union. He was also part of the famous 60’s protest in Europe. He was a British student leader of Pakistani origin and had come from England to express his solidarity with the protesting students of South and East Asian countries. In most of the countries, including the country of his origin, Pakistan, his entry was banned. But he was allowed to come to Delhi and was invited to JNU. He addressed a gathering of large number of students and teachers from all over Delhi at JNU and stayed here for 2-3 days! that gave me a sense of pride about our University and our country where space was given to all schools of thought and ways of life.

The most historical memory of my student days at JNU is, of course, the opportunity to invite Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan to address the JNU community in 1974 in the context of his campaign against corruption and crisis in the education system. He talked like a teacher to inquiring minds about what was wrong with the country and what was the need of the hour without any comments about any person or party. This meeting was attended by nearly all faculty members, karamcharis and students of not only JNU but also I.I.t. and A.I.I.M.S. We presented a small contribution of Rs. 500/- to J.P. which was collected from J.N.U. and I.I.T. and he was very pleased with this programme.

Bhoomika: What are your plans regarding the Alumni Cell?

Prof. Anand Kumar: It is a missing link in our system. In the last three years, the university has made efforts to create a system of activities for improving our link with the former students. It has collected more than 4000 addresses and put them in a directory. But it has to be more comprehensive as there are more than 35,000 persons in different walks of life who have been students of JNU between 1971 and today. There is need to network with the JNU Alumni Associations in different parts of India and abroad. We do have very active presence of such bodies in Delhi, Bombay, Patna, Hyderabad, Chicago, Moscow, Toronto, Nairobi and a few other places. There is also a website dedicated to create a gallery of photographs of different stages of JNU’s growth. It is managed by a former student. Around 500 ex-students’ contacts have been collected through individual efforts by a former student based in U.S.A. We have to put together all these efforts in order to create an effective network. Then we have to see what are the requirements at the institutional level.

Bhoomika: Are these any priorities in this direction?

Prof. Anand Kumar: Five things have been already identified:-

1. We have to encourage formation. A space is needed in the JNU website system for alumni related information where we could create possibility of all our ex-students putting up their details.

2. We should try to organize an annual activity week in harmony with our annual day i.e. The annual lecture of 13 November. It has been suggested that it can be complemented by organizing a few more activities around this week. So that we have a foundation week where former students could come forward with complementary activities like cultural evening, musical performance, poetry sessions, Round table discussions, seminars, exhibition of photographs and paintings and an annual dinner.

3. There has to be an institutionalized arrangement to encourage former students to offer support to the university. Today it may start as a modest fund. But in future, it can become substantial support for our alma mater or even for those who are in need of financial or other forms support.

4. The Alumni network may play a constructive role in promoting career planning and placement activities for our present day students through counseling, consultation and guidance at the Centre and School levels. It can be launched very soon in the form of periodical consultation for our present students about career prospects with the help of our former students who have excelled in different walks of life. This would help the present students in planning their transition from campus life.

5. The University is also in the process of creating a reception point where any former student can be welcomed. We already have some souvenirs like JNU Coffee Mug, Calendar, Diary, JNU tie, and a few other things. We want to systematise it further and make it self-sustainable.

Bhoomika: What is the aim of these initiatives?

Prof. Anand Kumar: In the making of a great institution like JNU, the important but vital link of our Alumni must be activated as soon as possible. No good university in the world is without an active Alumni Network. I think that the gap is about to be filled up with the constructive attitude of the administration, cooperation of faculty and enthusiastic initiatives of our former students around the world.

Bhoomika: What message would you like to give to the present student community of JNU?

Prof. Anand Kumar: Our students must dream for a better tomorrow. I want to underline the need to be critically concerned, active, constructive and optimistic about the University and country. If our minds succumb to an attitude of cynicism or to the syndrome of arrogance, our growth will be impeded. If we become indifferent or dismissive about our relative excellence and success, then we will lose the momentum which has been maintained by all of us together in these difficult years. At the same time there are challenging years ahead. It is essential to maintain a balanced attitude about our past deeds and future needs.