Commendable opposition

Your cover story on Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi (EW January) highlights how students — even if not the administration — of this iconic liberal arts university continue to uphold JNU’s vibrant intellectual traditions and a deeply democratic culture.

JNU students’ political literacy and strident stand against right wing Hindu extremism is commendable as is the university’s tradition to question, analyse, and engage with national and global issues. Rather than undermining education, this tradition has nurtured generations of eminent scholars, policymakers, and intellectuals who have cemented JNU’s position as one of India’s most influential universities.  The victory of the Left students union in the recent student elections is welcome at a time when the country is in need of a strong opposition to challenge the BJP/NDA Central government.

Divyanshi Shah
Hyderabad

Declining scholarhsip

Your January cover story shines a much-needed spotlight on a troubling reality: JNU’s growing preoccupation with political ideology that seems to be overshadowing its academic mission. While debate and dissent are integral to university life, JNU’s campus culture seems increasingly defined by political activism rather than scholarship, academic excellence, and research output.

Frequent protests, divisive student politics, and ideological clashes divert students’ attention from education and intellectual growth. At a time when Indian universities must compete globally, JNU students would do well to recalibrate their priorities and re-establish JNU’s reputation for its academic excellence rather than political activism.

Dhireen Mishra via e-mail

Wonderful curation

I enjoyed reading your Special Report ‘25 books all educators should read’ (EW January) which was thoughtfully curated and recommended inspiring titles for teachers and school leaders.

Covering a wide range of genres — from educational theory and classroom practice to psychology and leadership — the list encourages educators to expand their horizons and evolve continuously. Whether you are a seasoned educator seeking new insights or a novice looking for guidance, this compilation offers something valuable for every stage of your journey and reinforces the importance of lifelong learning in education.

Bhoomi S.
Mumbai

Practical roadmap

Your insightful Teacher-2-Teacher essay ‘Six-year plan to university admission success” (EW January) offers a practical roadmap for students navigating the increasingly competitive university admissions journey.

The structured long-term strategy emphasises thoughtful self-assessment, continuous academic growth, and meaningful extra-curricular engagement, helping students build strong profiles well before application deadlines. Authors Sheila Baeur and Raymond Ravaglia clearly recommend development of personal narratives and strategic planning over short-term tactics, empowering learners to make informed decisions aligned with their goals.

Kiran Malhotra
Gurugram

Compelling case

Your Special Essay ‘Case for post-study ‘S’ visas’ (EW January) makes a compelling and strong case for introducing post-study work visas in India to allow international students extended stay and enriching work experience after graduation.

With US President Donald Trump tightening student visa procedures which have created uncertainty over postgraduation work options in the US, this is a good time to attract foreign students to India by offering post-study work visas to work in Indian industry. This will attract foreign students to India’s colleges and universities.

Shamitha Shetty
Mumbai

Exemplary applied research

I read with great interest your Education News titled ‘Chitkara University’s research breakthrough’ (EW January). It highlights the university’s innovative efforts to address Delhi’s annual AQI (air quality index) problem. At a time when research increasingly needs to demonstrate real-world relevance, it is heartening to see Chitkara University has accepted the challenge of providing solution-driven research.

I hope this development reflects a broader shift within India’s research ecosystem, positioning universities as key drivers of innovation and social transformation.

Narasimha Rao
Hyderabad