The Hindu Editorial Summary

Editorial Topic : Hyperpoliticisation of Indian Higher Education: A Threat to Academic Freedom

 GS-2 Mains Exam : Education

Revision Notes

Hyperpoliticisation of Indian Higher Education: A Threat to Academic Freedom

• Context: A grave threat looms over academic institutions, professors, and intellectual life in India.
• Background:
  • Indian higher education has a history of political influence.
    • Politicians established institutions to further careers and gain support.
    • State/Central governments placed universities in politically advantageous locations.
    • Many institutions catered to specific socio-cultural demands.
    • University naming/renaming often reflected political motivations.
    • Appointments and promotions weren’t always based solely on merit.
    • Academic freedom wasn’t universally respected, particularly in undergraduate colleges.
• Past Landscape:
  • Despite these issues, Indian universities generally adhered to international academic freedom norms.
  • Professors typically enjoyed freedom to teach, research, publish, and speak publicly without fear of repercussions for their views.
• Current Concerns:
  • Bureaucracy remains an issue within universities.
  • Allegations of political interference in faculty recruitment are rising.

 Fundamental Change:

• Indian higher education is now fundamentally politicized, reflecting a broader societal trend.
• This decline in academic freedom may hinder India’s rise in global education

Erosion of Academic Freedom:

• Self-censorship, especially in social sciences and humanities, is becoming widespread.
• Universities have failed to protect professors publishing controversial work.
• Reputable journals are deemed inaccessible due to political pressures.
• Student activism has turned negative: reporting professors for disagreements leads to disciplinary actions.

The Dangers:

• These trends severely threaten Indian academia and civic life.
• An independent and free academic sector is vital for any society .
• Unrestricted research, publishing, and public discourse are essential across all academic disciplines.
• This is particularly true for India, where universities house many leading intellectuals.

Impact on Global Standing:

• India’s goal of world-class universities and global academic partnerships necessitates academic freedom and autonomy.

 

 

The Hindu Editorial Summary

Editorial Topic : Uttarakhand Forest Fires: A Complex Problem

 GS-3 Mains Exam : Environment Conservation

Revision Notes

Deadly Blazes:

• Five people have died in Uttarakhand since November due to wildfires.
• The state government claims the fires are entirely man-made.

Causes of the Fires:

• Out-migration: People leaving the hills for cities have resulted in less maintenance of forests.
• High-tension wires: Electrical sparks can ignite dry vegetation.
• Abundance of pine trees: Pine needles are highly flammable.
• Lack of education: Younger generations lack knowledge about fire safety and prevention.
• Reduced forest use: Ujjwala Yojana providing cooking gas has lessened firewood collection, leading to denser forests with more fuel for fires.
• Dry conditions: Droughts and low snowfall create drier environments prone to fires.
• Human activity: Burning agricultural stubble, discarded cigarettes, and intentional burning to clear land all contribute to the problem.

Forest Management:

• Uttarakhand has 38,000 sq km of forests, covering 71% of the state.
• The Forest Department manages 26.5 lakh ha of reserved forests with restricted human access.
• Van Panchayats, community forest managers, handle 7.32 lakh ha.
• Ironically, reserved forests have suffered more damage than those managed by local communities.

The situation highlights the need for a multi-pronged approach that addresses human activity, forest management practices, and educating younger generations about fire safety and environmental protection.

Government Actions:

• The Uttarakhand government claims all fires are man-made.
• The State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force are deployed for firefighting.
• The Indian Air Force is using Bambi Buckets to extinguish flames.
• Collaboration with IIT Roorkee to explore cloud seeding for rain.
• The Compensatory Afforestation Fund is being used entirely for firefighting and prevention.
• Filling vacant forest department positions at the field level.

Where Solutions Lie:

• Chir Pine Management:
  • A significant source of timber, fuelwood, furniture materials, decorations, charcoal, resin, and coal tar (no specific figures mentioned).
  • The state has a concept to generate electricity from pine needles.
  • The recently launched “Pirul Lao-Paise Pao” scheme offers ₹50 per kg for pine needles, compared to the previous ₹3 per kg.
• Community Participation:
  • Increased focus on community involvement to reduce fires.
• Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR):
  • A low-cost forest restoration technique promoting natural regrowth.
  • Involves removing invasive species, creating seedling microsites, and protecting regeneration.
• Addressing Snowball Effect:
  • Repetitive fires weaken mountains and reduce soil strength (no specific details mentioned).
  • Loose soil from fires causes flash floods and landslides.

Way Forward:

• Environmentalist Ravi Chopra suggests empowering local communities for better fire control.
• He emphasizes the incapability of the current forest department.