‘AI is good, but there’s no shortcut to discipline’, says Dr J K Sehgal, who took charge as Chandigarh PGGC-11 principal

A career built on both chalk and challenge

Dr Sehgal began his teaching career back in 1983, at what was then Government College in Sector 19. He joined PGGC-11 as a Commerce faculty member in 2001 and gradually rose through the ranks. Between 2008 and 2025, he held key leadership positions at both PGGC-11 and PGGC-46, significantly improving their NAAC grades. During his first principalship at PGGC-11, he pushed the rating from 2.75 (Grade B) to 3.40 (Grade A). At PGGC-46, the score jumped from 2.70 to 3.04 under his vice-principalship.

His mantra? “Administration and academics must go hand in hand,” Dr Sehgal asserts. Whether it’s a student, a teacher, or a staff member—each person, he says, plays a role in building the institution.

Books, boards and beyond

At the university level, Dr Sehgal has been instrumental in shaping curricula as a member of the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Boards of Studies and the College Development Council. He introduced the MCom programme at PGGC-11, set up a Faculty Research Centre, and launched national and international e-journals.

A prolific author, Dr Sehgal has written nine books on management and accounting and presented research papers across various national and international platforms. “It is the administration of academics. True education happens when teachers and the taught are brought together in an organised way,” he points out.

Education with an eye on employability

Dr Sehgal’s contribution is not confined to classrooms and journals. Concerned about the students’ future, he organised 10 job fests across Chandigarh government colleges, helping hundreds of students land jobs. “Students feel secure when they have something concrete to look forward to,” he says.

Building character, not just careers

For Sehgal, education must also address mental well-being and value systems. With parental pressure and social competition rising, he believes the focus must return to character-building. “Students must be taught humanity before ambition. Only then can they become successful in the true sense,” he adds.

The professor also believes in maintaining a healthy distance between students and teachers. “Close enough for trust, but far enough for respect,” he states.

Greener, safer, smarter campuses

Beyond the academic and personal, Dr Sehgal has driven social and civic awareness on campuses—be it through tree plantation drives with Infosys, blood donation camps with GMCH-32, or road safety programmes with the Chandigarh Traffic Police. Under his leadership, PGGC campuses have developed spice gardens and participated actively in Swachhta Abhiyan.

He has also ensured inclusion by procuring assistive technology for visually challenged students. “No one should be left behind,” he says.

On tech, AI, and student elections

Dr Sehgal is neither an alarmist nor a blind optimist about technology. “People feared the computer too. It’s not the tool but how it is used that matters,” says the professor while acknowledging AI’s potential. However, he cautions against lazy shortcuts via WhatsApp notes and mobile dependency. “There is no shortcut to discipline,” he says. “Work hard and success will follow.”

A believer in democracy on campus, Dr Sehgal says he supports student elections, calling colleges “nurseries of democracy.” At PGGC-46, he recalled scheduling opposing party rallies on different days to avoid clashes.

The last lap

As Dr Sehgal enters his final few months in office, his focus remains unwavering. Inspired by mentors like Narang Sir and shaped by decades of experience, he continues to draw lessons from everyone around him: teachers, students, and colleagues alike. “I never had one role model. I picked up good things from many,” he says.

(Nivedita and Amanpreet Thakur are interns with The Indian Express)