Historian Romila Thapar, who has been at the centre of a controversy after Jawaharlal Nehru University asked her to submit her CV, has declared the move was an attempt to dishonour her.
Multiple media outlets had recently reported that the JNU administration had asked Thapar to submit her CV in order to review her status as a emeritus professor there. Thapar claimed she had received a letter to this effect on July 12. Thapar (87) was appointed emeritus professor by JNU in 1993 after having taught there for 21 years from 1971.
Speaking to the Indian Express, Thapar claimed she had responded to the letter by informing the JNU administration that “The JNU letter of conferment stated quite clearly that the position is honorary and is for life.” Thapar alleged the move by JNU showed that the administration was “unaware” of the meaning of a emeritus professor and said, “it was laughable if they think that my ceasing to be emerita will affect my reputation as a historian or my academic work”. The Indian Express reported Thapar's response on Monday.
Thapar has been a vehement critic of policies of the Narendra Modi government and also the changed policies adopted by the JNU administration in recent years. Thapar claimed the notice to her was a “move to try and dishonour someone who has been critical of the changes that have been introduced in JNU by the present administration.” Thapar declared she and others had “spent a lifetime in building a new university,” referring to her work at JNU after its establishment.
JNU officials have defended the notice to Thapar, noting that rules had been revised for the appointment of people to emeritus professor posts. The rules, revised in August 2018, stated that the executive committee of JNU would review the appointments of emeritus professors after they reach 75 years of age, based on their “health, availability, university needs etc.”
