On September 1, Sunday, historian Romila Thapar, 87, said that Jawaharlal Nehru University seeking her CV in order to review her status as Professor emerita was an attempt to “dishonour” her. She further said that this step might be taken since she had been “critical” of the changes that the JNU administration introduced. 

What Did Romila Thapar Say?

The Indian Express quoted Thapar as saying that the status of professor emeritus is not re-evaluted anywhere in the world, once it has been conferred. “The JNU letter of conferment stated quite clearly that the position is honorary and is for life,” she said.

Thapar said that the university administration is probably not aware of what an emeritus professor meant. She further said that she has been critical of the university’s ways of functioning, which she feels might have prompted the move. 

She also said that she was unsure of what the university would gain by taking away the emeritus status of any professor. Thapar said that the fact that they think that her ceasing to be emerita will affect her academic work or her reputation as a historian is laughable. 

What Did The JNUTA Say?

On Sunday, September 1, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) said that the university administration’s decision to ask Romila Thapar to submit her CV in order to be assessed for continuation as professor emerita was “politically motivated”. 

According to the JNUTA, it was a “deliberate attempt to try and dishonour those who have been critical of the current administration”. They demanded that the move be formally retracted and a personal apology be issued to Thapar. 

Romila Thapar and the other professor emeritus/emerita of JNU have been nominated to this honorary position for their contribution to the building of JNU as an institution, and to their disciplines. 

The varsity’s registrar in July wrote to Thapar, asking for her to CV for evaluation. This letter to Thapar stems from a resolution of JNU’s Executive Council on August 23, 2018. The resolution revised the guidelines for designation as an emeritus professor.

“Once appointed, E.C, as an appointing authority, will review the continuation or otherwise for each existing emeritus professor after attainment of her/his age of 75 years by considering her/his health status, willingness, availability, university needs etc. so that more positions will be available to other potential candidates,” according to the new guidelines.

JNUTA said that 25 years before this “misplaced guideline was formulated”, Thapar was designated professor emerita in 1993.

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