Know Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit, the Trailblazer Behind JNU’s Gender-Neutral Title ‘Kulguru’

New Delhi- Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), a beacon of academic excellence in India, has recently made a groundbreaking move by adopting the gender-neutral title ‘Kulguru’ in place of ‘Vice-Chancellor.’ This significant change was championed by Professor Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit, JNU’s first woman Vice-Chancellor, who advocated for the term as a reflection of inclusive academic leadership.

She emphasized that ‘Kulguru’ carries deep cultural resonance and, being gender-neutral, serves as a progressive alternative to conventional university titles. In Hindi, ‘pati’ implies husband or master, whereas ‘guru’ denotes a teacher, embodying equality across genders. The JNU Executive Council endorsed this shift six months ago, and it has now been officially implemented.

Professor Shantishree Dhulipudi was associated with Savitribai Phule Pune University before becoming the Vice-Chancellor of JNU.

Notably, in August 2022, Professor Shantishree Dhulipudi participated in a lecture on the topic "Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Thoughts on Gender Justice: Decoding the Uniform Civil Code." During this event, she made remarks about Hindu deities. She even mentioned the caste of deities, stating that gods do not belong to higher castes and that Lord Shiva could be considered as belonging to the SC or ST community.

Born on July 15, 1962, in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia, Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit has built an illustrious career marked by academic and professional achievements. She excelled at Presidency College, Chennai, earning gold medals for topping both her BA and MA programs. She went on to complete her M.Phil and Ph.D. in International Politics at JNU’s School of International Studies, followed by a Post-Doctorate in Peace and Conflict Studies from Uppsala University, Sweden. Her academic journey began as a lecturer at Goa University in 1988, and in 1991, she joined the University of Pune (now Savitribai Phule Pune University). Since 2006, she has served as a Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration, and from 2001 to 2007, she held the role of Director of the International Centre.

On February 7, 2022, Shantishree was appointed as JNU’s first woman and alumna Kulguru, embarking on a five-year tenure. Over her 35-year career in teaching and research, she has authored four books, edited two, and contributed chapters to over 36 publications. Her notable works include Parliament and Foreign Policy in India (1990), Restructuring Environmental Governance in Asia-Ethics and Policy (2003), and Covid-19 Crisis and the Future of Higher Education in India (2022). Her articles have appeared in leading publications like The Hindu, News Today, Sakal, and New Swatantra Times, and she has published book reviews in journals such as International Studies and Diplomatist.

Shantishree’s contributions extend beyond academia into social engagement. She has mentored 30 Ph.D. and 8 M.Phil. students, with four doctoral candidates currently under her guidance. From 1996 to 2009, she was the General Secretary of the Pune University Teachers’ Association and served on the University of Pune’s Senate and Management Council from 2001 to 2006. As an expert in international relations, Asian studies, culture, and foreign policy, she has contributed to the Boards of Studies of various universities. Proficient in Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Hindi, Sanskrit, and English, she also understands Kannada, Malayalam, and Konkani.

Her remarkable contributions have earned her several accolades, including the Woman Educator Award from the Youth Forum for Gandhian Studies, Chennai (2003), the Wisetex Award for Women Leaders in Education (2004), the Veer Savarkar Award (2010), the Sushma Swaraj Stree Shakti Award (2022), and the Universal Peace Federation’s Ambassador of Peace Award (2022).

Reacting to this change, JNU Students’ Union president Nitish Kumar described it as a symbolic step but emphasized that the university should not limit itself to mere symbolic gestures. He demanded concrete measures, such as gender-neutral washrooms and hostels, to promote genuine gender justice.

This change aligns with similar initiatives in states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, where terms like ‘Kulguru’ and ‘Pratikulguru’ have already been adopted. Madhya Pradesh approved such amendments in July last year, and Rajasthan followed suit in February.

Under Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit’s leadership, JNU’s adoption of the term ‘Kulguru’ is not merely a linguistic shift but a significant step toward inclusivity and gender neutrality.