JNUTA JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION               Faculty Centre, JNU New Campus, New Delhi – 110 067

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Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association(JNUTA) President                                           Secretary Prof. Chaman Lal                          Dr. M.M Kunju                     Report on ‘Teachers Day’ Function         Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) had a unique Teachers Day function this year. It was after a very long period that JNUTA held a function to mark this day. JNUTA honoured the very first Professor of JNU-84 year old respected scholar of international studies, Professor M.S.Rajan. Incidentally Professor Rajan also happens to be the first Professor Emeritus of JNU. Author of many scholarly books, Professor Rajan joined School of International Studies as Professor on 14th March, 1962. SIS and Centre for Russian studies became the first constituents of JNU, when it started functioning in year 1969. To honour the first Professor of JNU, Chancellor of the University Professor Yashpal especially came. Prof. Chaman Lal, President JNUTA welcomed both the great scholars in their respective fields and hoped that JNUTA will continue honouring its senior and respected faculty on such occasions. He welcomed the newly recruited members of JNU Faculty on behalf of JNUTA. Prof. Purshotam Aggarwal, Chairman, of Centre of Indian languages till recently, who took voluntary retirement to become member of UPSC, was also presented with JNUTA token of affection on this occasion.         Professor Rajan spoke about the earliest days of JNU, when one had to ‘walk half a mille to get even a match box’. He remembered those warm days, when every member of JNU community, particularly Faculty and students knew each other personally. Professor Yashpal spoke about ‘the enjoyment of teaching profession’ and underlined the fact the prestige of JNU had been built by teachers like Professor M.S.Rajan. He said that he feels very happy in joining the occasion to honour such scholars of repute and he complimented JNUTA for this. Earlier Professor C.S.R.Murthi, introduced Professor Rajan as ‘ great Indian scholar of non-aligned movement in truly non aligned way’.         JNUTA organised a discussion on the theme-‘The need to strengthen teacher movement and democratic organisations in Universities on this occasion. Dr. Tabrez Alam Khan , Secretary, FEDCUTA(Fedration of central universities teachers associations) initiated the discussion by focussing upon ‘the ailing system of education’ in Inida. He underlined the dangers posed by liberalisation and WTO regime to education and he felt that teacher associations of the universities were being ignored in the matter of taking policy decisions in regard to educational reforms. C.S.Kalra, editor ‘University Today’ spoke about the danger being posed to class room teaching by adopting new technologies like CBT He said the ‘Deemed to be universities’ were actually’ doomed to be universities’. In this context he gave example of Vedanta University, being established in Orissa by some NRI’s and so many other private universities, which were threatening the whole gamut of higher education in India. On this occasion message from Dr. V.K.Tiwari, Secretary AIFUCTO, was read, in which he expressed the  hope that FEDCUTA and AIFUCTO would work together for the well being of teaching community.         Professor Arun Kumar from JNUTA spoke about the importance of teacher move3ments in universities and he also emphasised the need of having strong student and staff unions. Professor Anad Kumar, in his presiding remarks expressed the hope that country having a teacher as Prime Minister will pay more attention to teaching profession. He said that it was a shame that technocrat like Sam Pitroda was deciding the fate of higher education in India. Professor A.K.Pasha, in his presiding remarks underlined the need to make FEDCUTA, a more active body to work for teachers interests. Prof. Charanjit Singh, Vice President JNUTA presented a vote of thanks.             Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association(JNUTA) President                                           Secretary Prof. Chaman Lal                                                   Dr. M.M Kunju                               Press Release                Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association(JNUTA) has welcomed the appointment of Professor Yashpal, an eminent scientist and former chairman of UGC as Chancellor of JNU. JNUTA thinks that it is the best choice, as Prof. Yashpal is known for his contribution to popularise science and scientific temper among young minds through his scholarship and media programmes. JNU , named after Jawaharlal Nehru was established to create scientific temper through liberal education and under the able care of Prof. yashpal ,it will achieve its goal in a better way.                 JNUTA team participated in March to Parliament at the call given by AIFUCTO to focus upon issues concerning national policies on education at all levels. JNUTA President Prof. Chaman Lal addressed the rally and assured JNUTA support to the cause of education.             Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association(JNUTA) President                                           Secretary Prof. Chaman Lal                                                   Dr. M.M Kunju                                Press Release              Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association(JNUTA) has welcomed  the increase in  superannuation age of Central institutions of higher education to 65 years, which was its long standing demand.              JNUTA also welcomes the decision of National Programme implementation committee’s decision to set up Bhagat Singh Chair at JNU. The proposal to this effect was moved by Prof. Chaman Lal, editor of Bhagat Singh documents and currently President of JNUTA. This proposal was supported by all associations of JNU, including JNUTA, JNUSU and JNUSA. Shashi Bhushan , former member of Parliament took keen interest in the proposal and got it passed from this national committee.           JNUTA is celebrating its 35th Foundation day on 21st March, Wednesday at JNUTA office(Faculty Centre). Prof. Bipan Chandra, eminent historian will be honoured at the occasion on being appointed as National Research Professor . Prof. Yogendra Singh, an eminent sociologist, will be honoured as being the first President of JNUTA in 1973. Both are Professor Emeritus of JNU. First convocation address of JNU, delivered by Balraj Sahni in 1972, will be released on this occasion. Chaman Lal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ JNUTA Foundation Day(21st March) Report  JNUTA celebrated its foundation day on March 21. The function was attended by a large number of senior scholars, including former faculty members and office bearers of JNUTA.  The vice chancellor of the university, Professor B. B. Bhattacharya, also attended the function briefly and congratulated JNUTA for organising celebration of its foundation day. The programme started by remembering past presidents and secretaries of JNUTA who had passed away. JNUTA president mentioned that eight presidents and secretaries and two members of constitution drafting committee of JNUTA had passed away. The gathering paid homage to these former colleagues by standing in silence for two minutes. These former colleagues were—Prof. Moonis Raza and Prof Krishna Bhardwaj(members of drafting committee ), Prof. Parimal Das, Prof. Sivatosh Mookhrejee, Prof. V Asthana, Prof. K J Mahale, Prof. Jayshekhar, Prof.P A N Moorthi, Prof. Aijajudin Ahmad and Prof. S K Sahu These all were outstanding scholars of their respective fields. The gathering then welcomed the new members of the faculty who had joined JNU since October 2006. An important part of the celebration was to honour all the former presidents and secretaries of JNUTA. The JNUTA has been able to trace from its records and through recollection of current and former office bearers almost all of the former presidents and secretaries. JNUTA honoured all those former office bearers, which could make to this occasion. Many retired Presidents/Secretaries too turned up for this happy gathering, which include- Prof. Ashwini Ray, Prof. R R Borges, Prof. S D Muni, Prof. R R Sharma and Prof L K Pandey. Many former office bearers in service were also present. In particular, JNUTA honoured Professor Yogendra Singh, who was the first president of JNUTA. Professor Chaman Lal, current president, narrated the history of formation of the association, which came into existence on 21st March 1973. JNUTA records contain reports of the meetings attended by senior scholars like Moonis Raza, Yogendra Singh, Parimal Das, Krishna Bharadwaj , G P Deshpande and many others. He described the formation of a constitution committee, which drafted the constitution of the association, and the process of election of the first team of office bearers. Professor Anand Kumar briefly discussed scholarly achievements of Professor Yogendra Singh. Professor Chaman Lal mentioned that despite the exemplary role of JNUTA as a democratic association in the university, its  constitution had never been published. The JNUTA has now taken the initiative to fill this gap and  published it as a monograph. Professor Yogendra Singh released the constitution. The JNUTA also honoured Professor Bipan Chandra who was recently appointed as National Research Professor. Professor Aditya Mukherjee spoke on Professor Bipan Chandra's contribution to foundations of modern Indian history and his role in shaping the centre of Historical Studies of JNU. Prof. Chaman Lal added about his role in bringing out Bhagat Singh in focus as a brilliant scholar apart from being a brave patriot. Eminent historians like Prof. Romila Thapar, Prof. Suvira Jaiswal, current President of Indian History Congress and Prof. Mridula Mukhrejee ,Director Nehru Memorial Museum and Library were present on this occasion. Prof. Bipan Chandra presented a copy each of biography of Gadar party hero Kartar Singh Sarabha, written by Prof. Chaman Lal and published by NBT recently, to Prof. Yogendra Singh and Prof. Mridula Mukhrejee. Prof. Chaman Lal presented the copy of his edited book-‘Complete Documents of Bhagat Singh to Prof. Suvira Jaiswal.. On the occasion of its foundation day, the JNUTA published another document: the convocation address delivered in 1972 by Shri Balraj Sahni, which is known as a historic document. This was not available since many years now. Professor Bipan Chandra released this publication. Prof. Kalpana Sahni, niece of Balraj Sahni was also present on this occasion The programme concluded with a brief but beautiful cultural programme presented by some students of the University. Dr. M M Kunju Secretary JNUTA presented a vote of Thanks.