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Journalism of Courage
Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) students were affected by low placement numbers and a lack of extra-curricular activities on campus, said Vice Chancellor Dr Umakant Dash during an interaction with journalists on Friday. Responding to a question by The Indian Express about issues brought to him by the students after the turbulent period the institute went through, he said, “Students were concerned about placements. Last year the placement was a little hit. Now we are inviting many companies and interacting with many people.”
“The second thing was about extracurricular activities. Personality development happens through these activities. So now (we are thinking about) how we can improve the existing clubs and the other clubs we can start. We are also going to have activities like dhol-tasha and akhada martial arts to understand Maharashtrian culture. Because a lot of our students are not from Maharashtra,” he added.
Dash took charge as Vice Chancellor after being appointed by Chancellor Sanjeev Sanyal in July, after a long period of uncertainty and controversy at GIPE. Veteran economist Ajit Ranade was removed from the Vice Chancellor post in September 2024 by then Chancellor late Bibek Debroy after a fact finding committee found that Ranade’s appointment was against UGC rules. Ranade contested this decision in the Bombay High Court, which ordered a stay on his removal.
This led to Debroy resigning and Sanjeev Sanyal being appointed as Chancellor in his place. Further controversy broke out when the Servants of India Society (SIS) removed Sanyal from the post of Chancellor due to a fall in NAAC accreditation to ‘B’. After a war of words between Sanyal and SIS, he was reinstated as Chancellor.
On whether he was in touch with office-bearers of the Servants of India Society, Dash said, “Obviously. They are our parent institution and my job is to take everyone along.”
Students told The Indian Express that unlike before, expert visiting faculty are not invited in adequate numbers. In response Dash said, “In almost every subject, we will invite at least two to three sessions of expert guest faculty per semester per course. They will bring with them their market experience.”
New Gokhale Institute initiatives
GIPE signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM), Pune.
The purpose of the MOU is to develop a framework for exploring opportunities to support both Institute’s interests in the areas of executive training, higher education and research related to economics, banking and finance. NIBM and GIPE will jointly organise seminars and workshops.
GIPE is also carrying out ‘A Study of Employment Elasticity in the Manufacturing and Value-Added Service Sectors of Maharashtra’.
Additionally, GIPE has set up a Centre for Transformative Rural Action and Policy in Hatta, Hingoli.
