‘Our contribution to society at large needs to improve’

The newly appointed Director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Prof Makarand R Paranjape (58) strongly feels the need to reach out to a larger number of academicians and research scholars in various regions of India and abroad, so that the IIAS assumes a national, regional as well as a global character.

Paranjape has taught at University of Illinois, University of Hyderabad, IIT, Delhi, and later he also taught as a Professor of English at Jawaharlal Nehru University. He feels that the outcome of research and studies at the IIAS must be reflected in policy formulation rather than the institution remaining insulated with no linkages.  

He has also initiated the much-delayed conservation work of the British-era imperial grey-stone structure, which is in dire need of repairs. In an interview with Special Correspondent Pratibha Chauhan, he shares his vision and plans to take the institute to greater heights. 

You have assumed charge of the IIAS recently. What is your vision to take the institute to further heights?

It is too early to talk of my “vision.” My first few months will be spent in trying to understand the institution and ascertain how it functions. Yes, I would like to make it an outstanding, even world-class, intellectual research centre. But for that, much needs to be done, including some correction of past practices and lapses. In addition, the building, which is of historic and national importance, needs urgent repairs and restoration. This will be a priority, even if it is not, strictly speaking, an academic matter. I want to work for the welfare of all members of the IIAS’ extended family, not only our permanent and regular employees, but the rest of our contractual and outsourced staff. Our Fellows, Visiting Professors, Associates, and Visiting Scholars are our pride; we must ensure that they are comfortable and well-looked after. Finally, our publication and research output needs to increase, so also there’s a need to improve our manner of dissemination of their results to a wider audience.

How do you intend to give the IIAS a global footprint, so that renowned academicians and scholars visit the institute to participate in discussions and seminars?

We must make the IIAS attractive as a study, research, and exchange-of-ideas destination not only for national but also for international scholars.

We find several regions under-represented. Our public profile as well as contribution to policy- making and the society at large needs to improve considerably. This can only happen if the cohort of interested scholars and stake-holders increases and deepens. We want to widen our appeal to those who work not only in Hindi or English, but in our many other languages.

We must also have more activities, including seminars and conferences, not to mention more high-profile and high-level explorations into issues of human and civilisational significance, as mandated by our founders and indicated in our Memorandum of Association. Several areas and topics, including national integration, have been neglected over the past few decades. We would also like to collaborate with sister organisations and institutions like the ICSSR, ICPR, ICHR, NBT, Sahitya Akademi, and so on for better synergy and higher impact. In brief, there is so much to be done.

Seminars and debates are held on relevant and topical issues at the IIAS. From academic and the research point of view, it is all right, but do you feel the opinions emerging from such discussions should be taken into consideration while formulating policy?

Yes, assisting in policy formation and providing inputs to the government is a part of our original mandate and we cannot exist in isolation. Unfortunately, this has hardly happened in the past. We plan to work more closely with government agencies and ministries to make up for this lack, but then interest and inputs must come from the other side also. 

What new and additional role do you see for the IIAS as a seat of learning in the coming times, so that it is able to suitably address issues like growing intolerance, divisive forces and other such topical issues?

We must go deeply into why such forces are allowed a free play or who is behind them. Empirical research, reliable data, and evidence-based study will help identify if some of the divisive tendencies in our society are actually promoted and fomented, rather than being some sort of a spontaneous upsurge of discontent. In other words, are we talking about manufactured discontent? If so, who is behind it? Who benefits from it? And who is the target? But all this needs to be inquired into systematically, rather than sporadically. It isn’t a matter merely of conversations or conventional outrage, but serious scholarly study and research.

The IIAS is housed in a historical building, which has been witness to history and shaping of India. The rundown and dilapidated condition of some parts of the IIAS is a cause for concern for all. How do you intend taking concrete steps in this direction?

Yes, things have been at a standstill since 2009 when the CPWD, charged with the maintenance of the building, took up its responsibility in earnest.

However, for one reason or another, the work has still not started. We deposited Rs 5 crore as advance payment for the repair and restoration of the Kitchen Wing of the main building of the IIAS. 

Our official consultants for the project, EPICONS (Mumbai), and the Heritage co-consultants, DRONA (Delhi), have also submitted a preliminary report on the methodology for the repair and restoration of the building. We hope we will get cooperation from the Archaeological Survey of India and with inputs from the CBRI, Roorkee, one of whose senior professors, Dr SK Singh, is on our committee, we will succeed in making a beginning in the repair and the renovation of our national heritage building in a few months.

Our difficulties are not lessened by the fact that three ministries of Human Resource Development, Urban Affairs and Housing and Ministry of Culture, in charge of the ASI, are involved in the restoration work.