Arbitrary GU Decision

People understand the present academic scerio of Assam. In Assam many people have got appointment in colleges collecting MPhil, PhD etc from some uuthorized private universities or through distance mode. Their depth of knowledge is highly questioble to a large extent. And some of the candidates have got appointment doing M Phil or PhD in some easy, irrelevant subject which has no connection with their academic post. Such research is carried out by a group of people to get appointment in colleges. Such research is not beneficial for the students and so GU has issued notice making MPhil and PhD in other subjects invalid, not giving marks in the appointment. But this move of GU will harm a particular section, those who are very committed in research and doing serious research in their respective fields. Many researchers change their Master's degree subject mainly because of their interest in other topics, not availability of seat in that subject or for doing research in good, reputed institutions. Many good research scholars are doing research in other subjects (departments) keeping the same topic they had in their Master's degree subject. 

In the premier institutions of India like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi University etc, there are some special interdiscipliry centres where research work is conducted very well. Many research scholars are doing research from these universities keeping connection with their core subjects (PG). Many of them are doing quality research in interdiscipliry subjects from broader perspectives. If this new rule of not giving marks in interdiscipliry M.Phil and PhD is implemented in the colleges under GU, it will kill the spirit of some serious research scholars. It will spoil the careers of many good researchers who are actually eligible to get marks in academics and at the same time student community will be deprived from quality learning. 

To give opportunity to serious researchers and to maintain the quality of higher education, GU needs to be flexible in the implementation of this new order.  The authority should give marks in the selection process to the candidates who are doing similar research in other centres (departments) without changing the subject of their Master's degree. And also to those who have done research on a relevant subject which has close connection with the core subject. Marks should be given on topic basis, not on centre basis. 

This new order of GU is also not recommended by UGC. The authority should not compromise with the quality, but in the me of maintaining quality the authority should not kill the future of serious researchers who are in interdiscipliry subjects with a hope to get employment as well as to serve tion. 

Arup Bezbaruah,

Research Scholar, JNU. Delhi.