While the student protests at the National Institute of Design (NID) have subsided, an email feudcontinues to simmer at the prestigious design institute. The latest exchange involves newly appointed director Ashok Mondal and several women faculty members who are objecting to his recent reshuffle. They are particularly concerned about the removal of six women from positions of authority and Mondal’s subsequent explanation during an open house with students.
Women are great educators’: Mondal In a recorded response to a student’s question about the removal of women faculty from leadership roles, Mondal stated, “I am only saying, there are a lot of women faculty at NID and they are great educators. Again, I am saying the same faculty can give more time to teaching (after being removed from power positions like chairpersons, portfolios of which also include academic administration work). That’s what.
“Giving academic or educational responsibilities also takes a lot of time…. So, in view of that, they will (now) give more time to education rather than academic administration.”
Less valuable contribution?”
After his statement circulated within the NID community, women faculty members responded with objections. One senior faculty member wrote in an email, “Stating that many women faculty members have been freed up to focus on strengthening academics, which is the priority, raises a serious concern: Does this imply that those who have taken administrative roles in past and present were less valuable contributions to education?”
‘Minimal presence’
The faculty member also pointed out that the resulting proportion of women in leadership roles is now 33%, which “could also be perceived that women included were to fill 33% and not for their credentials. As apremier institution of national importance, NID strives for greater inclusion and equity and it should not be perceived as working towards the bare minimum.” She emphasised that the 33% representation norm is meant to encourage greater female involvement, not simply ensure a minimal presence in decision making.
Tokenism’ and ‘multitasking’
Another woman faculty member expressed her concern about tokenism and objected to Mondal making assumptions about women’s priorities. She hoped it was not only for tokenism to have 33% women in the system.
Querying how Mondal unilaterally chose to free up the time of female faculty members without consulting them, she observed it “is logic hard to understand.”
She further stated, “When I say that, at no point of time, in any of the roles and responsibilities I have held here, have I put my teaching guiding at a lower priority level than my administrative tasks and responsibilities. We women are good at multitasking. It is innate in us. And when we are called upon to handle many things together, we rise up to the occasion by burning the midnight oil so that we do not miss out on any lowest common denominator.”
Mondal’s response
When contacted for comment, Mondal said, “I have clearly stated in my response to the students that ‘In the recent changes, more than 33% of the administrative roles have been assigned to female faculty colleagues on rotation basis. There are larger concerns with regards to inclusivity in recruitment, induction and promotion which will be addressed on a priority basis.’ In the recent changes, many of my female colleagues have been given higher leadership roles for the first time…on rotation basis.”