Formal convocation ceremonies, usually held in universities, have become a platform for Ph.D. Students express their anger in recent months. On October 28, while receiving his degree at the 39th convocation of Bharathidasan University in Tiruchi, F. Israel Inbaraj submitted a petition to Governor-Chancellor RN Ravi complaining about the treatment meted out to research scholars. The incident caused a stir as media teams surrounded Mr Inbaraj after the ceremony, demanding details.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr Inbaraj, a Chennai-based management professional, said he wrote the note because of the “complete disregard for human rights” by some staff and guides of the university research section. “I applied for a Ph.D. in Human Resource Management in 2017, but could only get his degree after six years. Although I was fortunate to have a helpful guide, there are many others who have been left destitute in recent times. I decided to submit a petition to the Governor-Chancellor to inform him about what is happening to research scholars in the university,” Mr Inbaraj said.
On October 13, A. Prakash, Ph.D. Scholars from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore submitted a complaint to the Governor at the convocation ceremony. “At the time of oral examination (voice), research scholars are advised to spend ₹50,000-₹1 lakh by some guides. Some scholars are being forced to give money, food and gold to the guides after successfully completing the examination,” he said in the letter, highlighting other alleged regulatory lapses in the university. “I was tired of seeing inaction on the exploitation of research scholars by some guides and used the public forum to express my concerns. Although my work made headlines, there has been no change at the ground level,” Mr Prakash said.
But it seems that the atmosphere has changed in favor of scholars. This week, the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu issued a note to all registrars of universities asking them to take immediate steps to stop harassment of research scholars by their guides. “An online reporting mechanism may be set up so that researchers can report their grievances and immediate action can be taken to redress them,” the note said.
culture of exploitation
According to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) report for 2020-21, Tamil Nadu had the highest number of PhDs. scholars in that academic year (3,206). Ph.D. Making more students engaged in research as a requirement for senior teaching positions in colleges and universities. Interestingly, it was recently reported that the University Grants Commission (UGC) is planning to make changes in the eligibility rules in favor of candidates who have a keen interest in areas such as start-ups, entrepreneurship and industrial collaboration. . In other words, Ph.D. acquire. Now it will not be mandatory for faculty appointments. But observers say that unless the UGC makes a definitive announcement, the toxicity of the Indian doctoral research sector will continue to grow.
The relationship between research scholars and their mentors in Indian universities often appears feudal. Running errands for guides is an accepted practice among research scholars. A Ph.D. “Students who are unable to meet the financial demands of their guides have to do things like grocery shopping, driving and child care,” said the scholar from Periyar University in Salem. One faculty member demanded that his students buy lunch for him every day.” He said, the guides help the students who meet their demands and get their research papers published in research journals and their thesis is clear.
Today, a sovereign amount of gold is commonly expected and given. There are guides who demand a gold coin for each of the two doctoral committees convened during the course. Sometimes, approved Ph.D. The scholars. One can still expect to pay an additional bribe of ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh when their work is signed off, said a management professor from a college affiliated with Anna University. Then, there are experts who come for PhD. They hold panels with their families and ask for free items, the cost of which is again borne by the student. “An expert from Chennai came to Coimbatore with his entire family and asked to visit Ooty!” The professor said.
A Ph.D. The media studies scholar at Madurai Kamaraj University said that in his third year of research, his mentor, the most senior professor in the department, did not allow him to work on his research topic. “I worked on presentations and collected inputs for my guides’ research work. Even when I wanted to take leave to spend time on my research, he would flatly refuse and ask me to do it after working hours,” he adds.
a silent conspiracy
Prabhu Panneerselvam enrolled for Ph.D. at the Department of Commerce and Financial Studies (2024-29) at Bharathidasan University and then left the job due to problems he had with his guide. The things she was allegedly forced to do included buying lunch and parking her two-wheeler using a double stand every day. He claimed, “Some other scholars are treated like slaves and are asked to edit their resumes and prepare citations and presentations for their personal work.” When contacted, the guide denied Mr Panneerselvam’s allegations. “I felt that we had a common mentor and scholar relationship, based on mutual respect. It seems he has misunderstood the situation. All our research students are treated like family,” said the academic.
But it seems that the pressure to please the guides has worn some scholars out of stamina. In November 2023, the 31-year-old Ph.D. Sachin Kumar Jain. A scholar from the mechanical engineering department of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) took his own life. His brother Bhavesh Jain had written a six-page letter to IIT Director V. Kamakoti, alleging that his brother was under “undue pressure” regarding his PhD. Guide Ashish Kumar Sen. The professor was suspended after an investigation committee found him responsible for the student’s death.
Another researcher in Salem said that the Ph.D. At Periyar University, students are treated like school children. “We have to mark attendance in the morning and evening. Research departments should be allowed to work throughout the day, but here all the rooms are locked after 5.15 pm. Due to limited resources students have to do more field work,” said the scholar.
A Coimbatore-based academic, who has also been a syndicate member at Bharathiar University, attributed the current situation to a system that “focuses on creating records of work”. Teachers are burdened with clerical work, especially computerization of academic papers. “There is no teaching or research anymore; The focus is on creating a record of work. The race to publish and linking salary increases to publications adds pressure,” he said. However, in rare instances, there are supervisors who spend money for their students. “I know someone in Erode who pays the fees of his researchers,” he said.
Publishing articles in journals approved by the UGC-Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics (UGC-CARE) is a complex issue due to its arbitrary nature. “For example, take the list of journals in which publication is mandatory in Annex I of Anna University. Almost all of the journals listed here are publications that solicit money from scholars, and some of them are questionable. The list omits the prestigious journal Vikalp of the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A), but includes some other random publications,” said a professor.
The performance index of the faculty is dependent on the articles published in these journals (as per the rules of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council) and scholars require these for their PhD. Of course, the costs of publication are usually borne by the latter. The published paper names the supervisor as the second author. Researchers said the demands of Scorpius journal publications are unfair to the humanities. An English professor said, “Universities have their own list of publications which is not even mandated by UGC-CARE, thereby unnecessarily increasing the financial burden on scholars.” The competition to publish has created a gray market in which “research paper mills” that print for payment are thriving. “Nowadays, you have to get a Ph.D. Agents are found searching for. Candidate. I often get calls from some agents in Nagercoil asking me to accept a scholar, with the assurance that they will write the thesis and I just have to pass it,” said a professor.
Independent researchers (who work without a guide until the thesis is submitted) are also in no better shape. “There was a time when I submitted a paper online, and within a few seconds, I got a message that it had been accepted without any scrutiny,” said a professor who had just completed his PhD. In 2014 after starting its work in 2009. “I did an independent Ph.D. Decided to do. Because I had heard a lot about the toxic research field, the demands for payment, and the harassment faced by women scholars,” she said. However, at the time of submission and allotment of supervisor at the end of the submission, he had to pay ₹1.5 lakh to the ‘guide’.
The practice of guides receiving gold coins, gifts and money from candidates as a “mark of gratitude” is very common, said T. Veeramani, principal of the Government College for Women, Coimbatore, and former state president of the Government College Teachers Association. Organization. An English professor in Coimbatore, who regularly supervises students, explains how colleges restrict the payment of staff. “Ph.D. Students pay fees to the college, but the supervisor is not paid remuneration. Often, an external examiner from an international university will ask for $1,500 to adjudicate a thesis. The university allocates only $100, the remaining amount has to be paid by the scholar,” says the professor. Hosting external examiners increases expenses, even if universities are willing to bear this cost. “This is leading to a huge increase in the fees of PhD programmes. Unfortunately, the problem persists,” said Professor Veeramani.
lack of integrity
Academics said there can be no quick solution to this disease. When external examiners accept extended hospitality from candidates, their integrity always becomes questionable. PK Ponnuswamy, former vice-chancellor of Madras and Madurai Kamaraj Universities, said, “Although the decline in the quality of research is not substantial, personal corruption causes the decline.” “Exploitation has been going on for centuries; Perhaps, only the border has changed over the years. E. Balagurusamy, former vice-chancellor of Anna University, said it is unfortunate that corrupt people have become more emboldened and are not even bothered by student suicides.
Professor Balagurusamy said that while news headlines focus on the plight of male candidates, the situation of female researchers is more precarious. “Guides have been known to demand sexual favors from their female scholars for paperwork. “Victims’ pleas for help often fall on deaf ears because women are expected to ‘adjust’ to the situation if they want to get their degree,” she said.
Professor Balagurusamy, advisor to the Confederation of Indian Private Universities, said that hasty tinkering with the rules will affect the quality of research in the long run. “When guides are taking money for everything, they will not worry about the quality of their scholars’ presentation. Reputation matters only to honest people,” he said.
(With inputs from R. Krishnamurthy in Coimbatore, P.V. Srividya in Krishnagiri, M. Sabari in Salem and Palanivel Rajan in Madurai.)
published – November 24, 2024 01:03 am IST
