It's Mumbai University alright!

Beauty without.... Mumbai University!
Photo courtesy: Ajay Kamalakaran

It was a moment of great pride when an ex-student referred me to deliver a lecture to a master's level class of journalism and communication at the University of Mumbai. Although I knew better, I accepted the offer over the phone, in spite of the fact that their budget for a guest lecture by a person with industry experience was quite meagre. In a period of two days over my discussion with this student, I realised that my lecture was a part of the assignment given to the students - to arrange for a guest lecture before a certain deadline to clear a particular subject/ course. 

I went, all prepared with photocopies of news stories and pieces I'd wanted to share and reading up on material I thought I had become a little dusty in. From that point on, everything else was a challenge. I entered the classroom quite happy to see it full! To my dismay, the students seated there did not belong to the class I had to teach. They were not even willing to budge to vacate the classroom for me to conduct the class. Finally I managed to locate a bunch of students which belonged to my class, only to realise that they were racing against time to complete an assignment and were not interested in sitting for the lecture. The course coordinator was nowhere to be found. 

After 20 minutes of making no headway, I told the girl who had invited me to call off the lecture, since there was no point. She then took me to the faculty member whose assignment the others were working on, and he had to threaten the students to sit in my class! He also came by to the classroom and drove away the students occupying it. When leaving, he asked me to approach him if there was any other trouble. By now I was reasonably mortified. Once in class, I gave the students an out. They could leave, as there was no point in forcibly making them attend. A few left. About 15 stayed, rather sceptical about the next hour. Once I started the class, talking freely to them, and encouraging them to discuss issues, I was glad I stuck it out. This interested lot was willing to share opinions and question other comments. This, after a good 45 minutes had passed it getting it all together. By then, I had lowered my expectations to such a level, that I would have been happy with mute listeners. What I had was much better. It was exactly what I feel happens with our university time and again, for many matters - too little, too late.

The payment system proved it as well. I delivered the lecture in October 2012. That day, I filled out a form, followed protocol at the University Department, and was asked to wait for my cheque (for the meagre amount after deducting tax) which would take a few weeks. I am still waiting. Calls to the student who invited me to deliver the lecture have not helped. Not that I need the amount, but I wanted to check. Verify my theory of too little too late, since the University has always treated students in a way that seems like that. Only, in this case, there is neither little nor late. There is nothing! 

Do teachers deserve this?

Teaching is a noble profession. Really? So what are teachers and their families supposed to survive on? Nobility? 'Cause the system sure ain't paying them enough. Or stealing a little even from what they rightfully deserve. The strike by the college and university teachers in Maharashtra is a case-in-point this year. These teachers claim they were promised the clearance of their arrears by the government last year, but the state government has not adhered to the promise. They say that they have taken to the last resort - boycotting the final exams. The result? Thousands of degree college students are left hanging about their impending exams. They don't know whether the hanging sword called 'exams' will actually fall on them or not this year. 

Well, that's just one case. In another example, an experienced and qualified teacher, great with tiny tots, applied to a new 'internationally affiliated' pre-school (which is yet to start operations). She was offered a pay of Rs 5000 a month (no, I haven't missed a digit there) for working seven hours a day. All she could do is gape that the interviewer, keep a level head, and run the hell away from that place. I can safely say that in many cases, our house help earns more than that! No wonder no one in their sane mind wants to take up teaching! 

While my talkative self went about quoting these examples to anyone in the industry who would care to listen, there was yet another. Boy they keep coming. A private institute offering media and other courses, has officially asked its faculty members to cut down on the number of lectures they had been allotted to teach their subjects this semester. Budget constraints of course. God alone knows how much they will save on cumulatively cutting out about 10 lectures from each course. Needless to say, students gain to lose a lot. And here we are talking about industry professionals who actually take the time out to teach the students. They are not even full time teachers. 

Well, these ramblings can go on. And we sure can have some more from the other side, since we cannot vouch for the quality of every teacher. But you know what? If you throw peanuts, you will only get monkeys. And despite that fact, I am proud to do my bit to the best of my ability as part of the monkey troop. True story.