Jawaharlal Nehru University

All you want to know about Jawaharlal Nehru University

Jawaharlal Nehru University जवाहरलाल नेहरू विश्वविद्यालय
Image:UOHYD logo.png
Established: 1969
Type: Education and Research
Faculty: 550
Students: 5000
Location: New Delhi, India
Campus: Urban
Affiliations: UGC
Website: www.jnu.ac.in

The sprawling campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (जवाहरलाल नेहरू विश्वविद्यालय) is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. Named after Jawaharlal Nehru (the first Prime Minister of India), JNU is among the premier universities in India. G. Parthasarathy was the first Vice-Chancellor of the university. Situated in a bush forest of about 1000 acres (4 km²) in South Delhi, JNU is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with about 5500 students. The faculty strength is around 550, and the University is organized in ten Schools (each of which can have several Centers) as well as four independent Special Centers.

Contents

Academic Reputation

JNU is ranked high among universities in India and also among Asian universities. International league tables produced in 2006 by the London-based The Times Higher Education Supplement(THES) placed JNU among the world's top 200 universities. For life and biological sciences, JNU is ranked among the top 100 universities in the world. JNU's School of Social Sciences is at the 57th position among the world's top 100 institutes for social sciences.

Institutional History

Vice Chancellors
  • G. Parthasarathy, 1969-1974
  • B. D. Nag Chaudhuri, 1974-1979
  • K. R. Narayanan, 1979-1980
  • Y. Nayudamma, 1981-1982
  • P. N. Srivastava, 1983-1987
  • M. S. Agwani, 1987-1992
  • Y. K. Alagh, 1992-1996
  • A. Datta, 1996-2002
  • G. K. Chadha, 2002-2005
  • B. B. Bhattacharya, 2005-Present

JNU was established in 1969, by an act of parliament, with the objective of promoting the study of principles of national integration, social justice, secularism, democratic way of life, international understanding and scientific approach in solving the problems of society. Over the years, it has been a model university in terms of academic excellence. Being unique of its kind in India, JNU is truly multicultural and a miniature India can be seen and felt in the residential university. Within South Asia, JNU-ites have already made their impact in policy-making and academic programs across the region.

The true Global Character of JNU can be seen from the MOUs signed with major Universities through out the globe. As of now, JNU has exchange programmes and academic collaboration with 71 foreign universities around the world.[1]. Among others, the list includes Yale University (USA), George Washington University (USA), University of Illinois (USA), University of North Carolina (USA), SOAS (University of London), Lancaster University (UK), Australia National University (Canberra), GNU (Korea), Ankara University (Turkey), MVL Moscow State University (Russia), University of Philippines (Quezon City), University of Heidelberg (Germany), University of Syndey (Australia), Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (France), etc. [2]

Several prominent political leaders of today have served as guest lecturers in JNU. Prominent among them, are the current Prime Minister of India, Dr.Manmohan Singh, who is a visiting professor at the School of Social Sciences. Former Sri Lanka President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga was a visiting lecturer at the School of International Studies early in her career.

There is a long tradition of holding serious post-dinner meetings in the hostels to which the students often invite well known public figures, writers and intellectuals. The Jawaharlal nehru Students' Union[JNUSU] is democratically elected student body, primarily responsible for building and preserving a health political culture and an atmosphere of open debate on the campus. Students are kept informed about the various public meetings, discussions and other issues through pamphlets and notices. The Student Union election is another democratic convention of JNU is conducted annually entirely by the students in a lively yet peaceful manner, without any intervention of the administration.

The campus buildings are architecturally distinct and are dominated by a nine storied red-brick library and buildings housing lecture halls around it.

Schools

  • 1. BioTechnology [1] SBT is the youngest School of JNU, being formed in 2006 out of the earlier Centre for Biotechnology, CBT.
  • 2. Social Sciences In many ways the JNU has been best known for its strong programme in the Social Sciences. SSS is the largest School (in terms of the number of faculty members) in JNU with 9 centres:
    • Centre for Economic Studies and Planning (CESP)[2]: This center is a premier institute in the field of economics.
    • Center for Historical Studies (CHS): This Centre regularly brings out a reputed peer-reviewed journal, "Studies in History" in collaboration with Sage Publications.
    • Center for Philosophy (CP)
    • Centre for Political Studies (CPS)
    • Centre for Studies in Science Policy (CSSP)
    • Centre for the Study of Regional Development (CSRD)
    • Centre for the Study of Social Systems (CSSS)
    • Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health (CSMCH)
    • Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies (ZHCES)[3]
  • 3. International Studies The School of International Studies existed, prior to the formation of the JNU, as the Indian School of International Studies.
    • Centre for International Trade and Development (CITD)

Language, Literature and Culture Studies

    • Centre of Arabic and African studies.
    • Centre of Chinese and South East Asian Studies
    • Centre for French and Francophone Studies
    • Centre of German Studies
    • Centre of Indian Languages
    • Centre of Japanese Korean and North East Asian Studies
    • Centre for English Studies
    • Centre for Linguistics
    • Centre of Persian and Central Asian Studies
    • Centre of Russian Studies
    • Centre of Spanish, Portuguese, Italian & Latin American Studies
    • Group of Philosophy
  • 5. Computer and Systems Sciences has been attracting the largest number of applications as compared to other centres, since its inception in 1974. Apart from leading in the research in wide variety of areas, SCSS also produced excellent professional software developers, IT-managers, and computer engineers for the IT-industry.
  • 6. Life Sciences
  • 7. Physical Sciences: SPS, formed in 1986, has faculty in the areas of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. At present the degree programs that are offered are the M.Sc. (Physics) and Ph.D. (in Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics). The School has experimental facilities in a number of different areas that include soft-matter physics, low temperature physics, materials science, supramolecular chemistry, as well as extensive computational facilities with a dedicated Nonlinear Dynamics laboratory. [3]
  • 8. Environmental Sciences
  • 9. Arts and Aesthetics
  • 10. School Of Information Technology carved out of the erstwhile BIC the place is in a class of its own. catering to the ever growing need for the confluence of biological sciences with the technological know-how, it offers M.Tech in computational and systems biology and Ph. D courses.

Special Centers

  1. Special Center for Molecular medicine
  2. Center for the Study of Law and Governance
  3. Special Center for Sanskrit Studies
  4. Center for International Trade and Development(CITD)

Institutions affiliated to JNU [4]

  1. The National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune
  2. The Army Cadet College (ACC), Dehra Dun
  3. College of Military Engineering (CME), Pune
  4. Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME), Secunderabad
  5. Naval College of Engineering (NCE), INS Shivaji, Lonavla
  6. Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), Mhow
  7. Centre for Development Studies (CDS) [5], Trivandrum
  8. Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad
  9. National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi
  10. C.V.Raman Research Institute, Bangalore
  11. International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi
  12. Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh
  13. Central Institute of Medicine and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow
  14. Nuclear Science Centre(NSC), New Delhi (now renamed as the Inter-University Accelerator Centre(IUAC) [6])

Infrastructure

JNU Library
JNU Library
School of Social Sciences
School of Social Sciences

The JNU Campus

JNU is located in the southern part of New Delhi, Capital of India. The campus is well connected by road from the three main railway stations, New Delhi, Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin, as well as the Interstate Bus Terminus. It is a short distance from the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Spread over an area of about 1000 acres (2 km²), the JNU occupies some of the northernmost reaches of the Aravalli Hills. The campus still maintains large patches of scrub and forest- this is the JNU ridge, home to over 200 species of birds and other wildlife such as nilgai, jackal, mongoose, peacock as well as a large number of snakes.

The JNU Students' Union

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union has traditionally been a prominent leading voice of the left students' movements in India[citation needed]. The JNUSU is the only students' union in the country which has produced two politburo members of the largest communist party in India - the CPI(M) - its present General Secretary Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury. The JNUSU has a unique constitution, entirely drafted by the students. The elections to the JNUSU are administered by students as well. During the Emergency, the JNUSU protested Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's visit to the campus. Presently the union is led by the far-left All India Students Association (AISA). The SFI-AISF alliance has dominated the Central Panel in JNUSU over the years, nevertheless, in 2007, it has lost all the key posts of the students union by its rival, AISA. A large majority of JNUSU Presidents have come from SFI.

Foreign Students' Association

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is a community of learning that is enriched by the wide variety of experiences and perspectives of its students, faculty and staffs. The prestigious varsity is deeply committed to building a diverse campus community to ensure that student, faculty and staff members can explore their interests, discover new academic and extracurricular pursuits, and just as importantly learn from each other.

JNU attracts students from all over the country and abroad, and from diverse strata of society. JNU has come to be deemed the best University in the nation and is among the best known Universities of the world. JNU has around 400 foreign students from around 50 countries from all over the world, a fair chunk of them coming from South Asia, South-East Asia, Central Asia, Africa and Europe. The Foreign Students’ Association (FSA) is an official Jawaharlal Nehru University body. It was instituted in 1985 with a view to promote friendly relations and cultural exchange among international students and with the host students of the university. FSA looks after the interest of the overseas students studying in Jawaharlal Nehru University. The association renders assistance to new entrants, solves problems of foreign students and ensures better facilities for international students.

Prof. R. K. Kale, the Dean of Students and Prof. Sushama Jain, the Foreign Students Advisor of JNU take care of the problems of the foreign students. All foreign students studying here agree that JNU has some of the best faculties, where teachers are very capable and helpful, both in terms of teaching as well as providing academic and moral support to the students. There is a close cross-cultural interaction of foreign students with students from India so that the atmosphere of the campus is that of a big family. However, one cannot deny the existence of certain problems of adjustment that foreign students have to face, even though the academic environment is congenial. One such problem is that related to food, but this problem gets tackled once the student spends some time in India and gets accustomed to the food here. There are other problems related to hostels, weather in India, water and sanitation too. But problems like these can be tackled.

The FSA has a constitution and elected executive, cultural, advisory and financial committees. In keeping with the ethos of JNU, the FSA functions democratically and regular General Body Meetings are held. All foreign students of JNU are also members of the FSA. The FSA is their space to communicate their ideas, discuss their problems and organize various inter-cultural activities. This year, for instance, the FSA held a welcome party for fresh students.

FSA also conduct Language and Culture classes free of charge for JNU students, which include Japanese, German, English, Arabic, Hindi and Urdu classes with the help of FSA members and Indian students. A Delhi sight-seeing tour was organized. Different tours, Picnics and Heritage trips are organized. International Film Festival screened films of different counties to show the cultures and life style around the world. “Thursday Forum” is the discussion session held in FSA for foreign students to come and discuss different issues, topics and interact. This year the Sri Lankan High Commissioner was invited to talk on the Sri Lankan Conflict.

The International Food Festival saw students from 21 countries participating with exotic dishes from their countries, cooked by them.

FSA organizes different sports activities between foreign and Indian students. International Cultural Festival, Farewell Party, Social Gathering, are the annual events of Foreign Students. ON different occasions, the diplomats of several countries, the Vice- Chancellor and Rectors of JNU, the Foreign Students’ Advisor, the Dean of Students, the Programme Director and staff of ICCR and teachers and students from other Universities are invited.

Modernization

Like any other university in India, JNU too has had its share of bureaucratic hassles . However, the university administration is modernizing itself by moving toward "paperless"[7] transparency and e-governance with the help of Wipro. Likewise, the campus is setting up a wireless network that will connect students and teachers to the library.

Hostels

The residential character of JNU is unique and strong component of the intellectual and cultural life of the campus. There are 15 hostels including one for married students. Of the hostels, 7 for men only, 3 for women only, while 4 have both women's and men's wings. The hostels are located in areas named after geographical directions (Uttarakhand, Purvanchal, Paschimabad and Dakshinapuram) and are correspondingly named after different rivers of India: Ganga, Yamuna, Jhelum, Sutlej, (all in Uttarakhand) Kaveri, Periyar, Godawari, (all in Dakshinapuram) Narmada, Sabarmati, (both in Saraswatipuram) Tapti, Mahi-Mandavi, Lohit, Chandrabhaga, (all in Paschimabad), Brahmaputra, and Mahanadi (in Poorvanchal).

Cultural Activities

There are 9 cultural clubs in JNU. The programs of these clubs are organized by the Convenor and the members of the respective club. They are the Drama Club, Music Club, Film Club, Fine Arts Club, Photography Club, Literary Club, Debating Club, UNESCO Club and Nature & Wildlife Club. Other cultural groups: IPTA (Indian Peoples’ Theatre Association), Bahroop Arts Group, Orissa Sanskrutika Parishad(OSP).

Annual Cultural Programmes

Northeast Nite: This is annually organized by the Northeast Forum during the early winter season. It is a cultural festival that celebrates the cultural diversity of people from Sikkim and the Seven States of India's Northeast. It offers a feast for the eyes, and a chance to get a taste of ethnic cuisines.

Kallol (Annual Sports and Cultural Festival) organized by the students of SLL&CS, JNU in the Monsoon Semester.

Summit: Sports and Cultural Festival of SIS organized in the Winter Semester.

Kalrav (International Film Festival) organised by the students of SLL&CS JNU in the Winter Semester with voluntary donations from the students.

HOostel Nights organised by respective Hostels during the Winter Semester with slight variations from hostel to hostel. Usually organized over a stretch of 3 or 4 days, divided into occasion specific nights like cultural night or dance night, culminating with an all night disco after an invitee only dinner.

Utkal Diwas Celebration: The celebration of Utkal Diwas (Orissa Day) on 1st April every year, is one of the most attractive cultural functions of the University organised by Orissa Sanskrutika Parishad (OSP), a cultural association of Oriya Students at JNU.

Sports

There are various sports clubs, the practice sessions are organised by the Convenor with help of Sport Office, which provides the necessary kit and other sport equipments. There are three main venues for sport activities in the University:

  1. Sports Complex / JNU Stadium: for Football, Cricket, Volleyball, Lawn Tennis, Weight Lifting/Gym, Yoga & Athletics.
  2. Badminton Hall, Students Activity Centre (Tefla’s Building): for Badminton and Taekwondo (with qualified Instructor, Black Belt 4th Dan),
  3. Basket Ball at the Basketball Court at Central School Grounds near Tapti Hostel.

Apart from these, all the hostels are provided with T.T. Tables, Carroms, Chess & Outdoor Badminton Court. And some also have Gym.

  1. Mountaineering Club: It regularly organises trekking, rock-climbing, cycling trips and other adventure programs.
  2. Swimming: JNU doesn’t have a swimming pool but Students can join the JNU Central School or DDA swimming pool (near by).

Annual Tournaments / Championships

All the clubs organise annual tournaments in the winter semester.

Prominent Alumni

References

  1. ^ Global Presence of JNU http://www.jnu.ac.in/main.asp?sendval=GlobalPresence#
  2. ^ List of Foreign universities which signed MOU for collaboration with JNU http://www.jnu.ac.in/Academics/MoU%20complete%20list.htm
  3. ^ JNU (1997) Silver Jubilee Commemoration Volume; A Profile of School of Social Sciences, New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University
  4. ^ Institutions affiliated to JNU
  5. ^ Centre for Development Studies (CDS)http://www.cds.edu/
  6. ^ Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC)http://www.nsc.ernet.in/
  7. ^ "JNU all set to go `paperless' ", The Hindu, 28 October 2006 [On-line] http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/25/stories/2006102519390300.htm
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External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawaharlal_Nehru_University"

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