Particle.news
Download on the App Store
9 ARTICLES
·
4d ago

JNU Renames Vice-Chancellor Title to Gender-Neutral 'Kulguru'

The title is now displayed on degree certificates with students urging more substantial gender-justice reforms.

JNU to rename Vice Chancellor as 'Kulguru' instead of 'Kulapati'
The change in the name was approved in a recent meeting of the university’s Executive Council held in April.
Image
Image

Overview

  • Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Executive Council approved the switch from the Hindi term 'Kulpati' to 'Kulguru' following a proposal by Vice-Chancellor Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit earlier this year.
  • The term 'Kulguru' draws on the ancient guru-shishya tradition and is intended to provide a more inclusive, gender-neutral designation for the university’s academic head.
  • The new title has been printed on all degree certificates and official academic records after being marked for action by the Controller of Examinations.
  • JNU’s change mirrors amendments in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, where state laws were updated to adopt 'Kulguru' and 'Pratikulguru' in place of 'Kulpati' and 'Pratikulpati'.
  • JNUSU President Nitish Kumar has called the renaming a symbolic step and demanded concrete measures including gender-neutral washrooms, hostels, reinstatement of JNUEE for PhD admissions and restoration of deprivation points.