Muhammad Irfan Nadeem,
Senior Lecturer in English,
Namal Institute Mianwali.
Gone are the days when university teachers used to shed tears because of the indifference and insulting attitude of their disciples. Now, they have very serious concerns, which have pushed them hard towards becoming non-entities in the current scenarios and setups of our universities. The unjustifiable approach of shallow researchers (who publish for the sake of publishing or for the fat bank accounts) has done unspeakably enormous damage to the sanctity of the academics and they have been running amuck all around with no stoppage causing trampling stampede. They, as a matter of fact, are wild oats and their rapid spread all around in universities has made the intellectuals shed blood tears and pine 24/7, resorting to deep pondering about the future of academia and the future of the role models. Agonizing humiliation to the selfless teachers, whose sole focus always remains to build the nation by infusing positivity to the students, has compelled the poor souls to walk bare-footed on burning coals, and the impact is debilitating enough to snatch their sanctity and sanity away any moment.
‘Publish or perish’ is the slogan of today’s academia and it has very unfairly been used to dismantle or sideline brilliant teachers whose number one priority is excelling in teaching and they, without failing, give their hundred percent for the welfare and betterment of students. They burn the midnight oil to prepare their lectures and lessons and try their utmost to meet the expectations of both administration and students for the sake of acquiring pure satisfaction through completion of amazing job with amazing results. They are forced to change their nature, priorities, preferences and the area of excellence for some queer notion about which the demanding forces themselves are not clear or have the sound understanding. This very fact is dismantling and agonizing that geniuses and campaign has been started to evaporate and obliterate the most desirable aspect of university life. With nefarious designs of some white elephants, the role models are being forced to do something they are not good at or they simply don’t want to do, because they are programmed and trained to do otherwise.
Who on earth would have the audacity to criticize the introduction of research culture and trends in academia? I don’t think there is anyone who is against the ‘real & purposeful’ research with its true spirit and essence. This is an era of change and advancement. It goes without saying that one of the most precious gifts of changing scenarios is having the culture of research in our universities. But the point is whether we have positively met the requirements or have done justice to the very essence of research. My humble opinion is that we still have been lagging behind, and we have closed our eyes deliberately to the facts we don’t want to embrace. The real research has hidden somewhere and we have already given up to search it and bring it to our academics.
At the same time, I may ascertain the fact that none would promote and support the shallow slogan ‘publish or perish’ whose essence is to publish trash consistently and persistently, otherwise, all the brilliant teachers (strangely enough) will perish for their excellence and commendable contribution in teaching, which they, very justifiably, consider as something real sacred. Research with a sole purpose of winning incentives has been doing unimaginable damage to the sanctity of academia and, unfortunately, the big wigs, sitting in high asylums of power and enjoying limitless authority, don’t show any tendency to address the matter sanely. Packages after packages have blinded them and they have shifted this myopic tendency to the researchers all around validating the trash which should, by all means, the privilege of trash bins only.
The most disturbing factor is not to applaud the rapidly spreading trends of promoting research, but it is to compel all the faculty members to join the club against their will, interests and aptitude. All trains and buses don’t go to the same destination, and in the same way all the faculty members can’t be forced to think alike and act alike. Good teachers also deserve the well-deserved applause, the way researchers are adding feathers in their caps. They should also be incentivized, so that their march towards excellence in teaching should be accelerated as has been of their counterparts. Teachers’ efforts are, by no means, worthless. They should be looked down upon for something they are not trained to do throughout their academic career. If university teachers are not rescued in these moments of crisis and torments, students will surely be deprived of excellent teachers whom they appreciate and idealize.
Monetary advantages have converted some of the faculty members into fish mongers. They apply undesirable methods and techniques to fatten their bank accounts and satisfy their insatiable appetite for monetary gains. With this tendency, the unhealthy culture of publishing trash arose and spread like nettles and wild oats. Damage may be controlled with strict monitoring and inspirational mentoring of the visionary scholars. The real researchers are like torch-bearers and they have been striving very hard to maintain the healthy research culture. These true scholars will have to play a vital role to convince the authorities that research is a sacred duty as is teaching, and both have their significance in academia.
Since ages, teachers have been playing vital role in grooming students and enabling them to excel in their respective fields. It is nonsensical approach to push the teachers to the wall or convert them into non-entities. Wake up calls by the university managements to the teachers with the obvious tinge of threats to them, are like showing disdain to the dedicated and dutiful teachers without any justification of causing unrest for them. Under the Damocles’ sword, the disturbed and mutilated brains won’t be able to continue brilliance, which undoubtedly is their expertise. Situation is grim and it requires sanity in decision making, so that damage is controlled and environment of universities is brought back to normalcy, satisfaction, collaboration and mutual respect.
Hats off to brilliant researchers whose ruling passion is to bring change, make remarkable contributions, share really unique and thought provoking findings, discuss problems which ought to be solved, and to work wonders in academia. Hats off to excellent teachers whose unswerving and un-shattering passion is to bring revolution through their engaging sessions, disseminating knowledge in day to day classes, enliven their spirits and broaden their visions, work day and day out to reach their destination, and ensure excellent mentorship to open the locked doors through their inspirational teaching. Eliminating teaching by discouraging teachers will eventually put devastating impacts upon the students and they will find themselves in the vortex of confusion and trepidation. We should never net the authoritative giants to demolish the most important pillar of university life they shouldn’t be permitted to weaken the foundation, and, for me, foundation is teaching. All research and no teaching will make our students orphans and they will be deprived of true mentors.
Balance should be maintained at any cost, if we don’t want to upset the whole system, which has been working smoothly and productively with the efforts of both teachers and researchers. Patting on the back of researchers only is like fanning the flames and infusing enmity to both the factions. It will weaken the strong bond required for promoting excellence in academia. For the solution, sincerity of purpose, realization of the grimness of situation, deep thinking and discerning approach are required. On a positive note, let me assert that common sense will prevail soon, God Willing.
