Home / Education / Bollywood's Alma Mater Faces Faculty Crisis
Bollywood's Alma Mater Faces Faculty Crisis
5 Jan
Summary
- Department has had no permanent faculty hires for 18 years.
- Only one regular teacher remains, impacting student guidance.
- Alumni include stars like Anupam Kher and the late Satish Kaushik.
Panjab University's Department of Indian Theatre, renowned for producing Bollywood luminaries, is grappling with a prolonged faculty deficit. The department has not appointed a permanent faculty member since 2007, leaving its academic future uncertain. Currently, only one assistant professor remains, supported by temporary staff, to manage the Master of Arts program and doctoral research.
The recruitment process for two assistant professor positions, initiated in 2022, has seen minimal progress, with interviews still pending despite candidate screening completion. This staffing crisis, exacerbated by a faculty departure in 2021, has drawn criticism from notable alumni and current students. They argue the university is neglecting a vital cultural institution.
University vice-chancellor Renu Vig has acknowledged the critical situation and pledged to accelerate the hiring process. The department, which counts Anupam Kher, Kirron Kher, and the late Satish Kaushik among its distinguished alumni, is facing calls for urgent administrative action to restore its academic strength.
