Beyond the Deemed-to-be-University Debate, a Democratic Milestone for the A&N Islands
What began as a demand for a Central University has transformed into a democratic awakening among students
The recent developments concerning higher
education in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands may ultimately be remembered not
merely as an institutional transition but as a defining moment in the
democratic evolution of the islands themselves.
The
latest and most consequential of such decisions has been the establishment of
the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Institute of Higher Learning (NSCBIHL) as a
deemed-to-be university against the longstanding demand for a Central
University. While the creation of a locally administered university framework
in itself marks an important milestone in the island's educational journey, the
manner and timing of its rollout generated a great degree of anxiety.
The
announcement to switch affiliation from Pondicherry University to a newly
created NSCBIHL, a deemed institution and bringing all seven higher educational
institutions in the islands under this new framework at the fag end of an ongoing
session, created understandable apprehension among students, who feared that
the abrupt mid-session change in affiliation might put their academic career in
jeopardy.
In
fact, for All India Quota students who opted for admission to ANIIMS under Pondicherry University, a central university of national repute, the sudden
transition without consultation felt unsettling. Their concerns were not
directed against institutional reform, but against the absence of dialogue in
decisions directly affecting their academic future.
It
was within this backdrop of muting of local voice, a
striking phrase coined by a student leader captured public imagination: that
the islands appear to be functioning as a “deemed-to-be democracy.” The
expression gained immediate attention because it reflected a deeper sentiment that
governance in the islands often appeared consultative in form but not in
substance. However, in a dramatic shift, the very episode that triggered this
phrase began to negate the need to use this very phrase. In the face of
sustained and united student representation, the administration responded with
reassurance and course correction. The decision to retain the existing fee
structures, continue affiliation with Pondicherry University for the academic
year 2025–26 and the assurance that currently enrolled students would receive
their degrees from the central university helped restore confidence and calm
anxieties. This indeed is a classic example that collective engagement can
influence policy outcomes within a bureaucratically administered framework.
The development also offers an important long-term
perspective. The establishment of a deemed-to-be university shouldn’t be viewed as
a departure
from the long standing aspiration, nor as the end result.
In many instances, governments have adopted the deemed university route as a
starting point, allowing institutions to be established with greater
flexibility and speed, while gradually building infrastructure, faculty
strength, academic systems, and credibility. As these foundations mature, such
institutions have been upgraded through parliamentary enactment to the status
of a Central University or an Institution of National Importance. Seen in this backdrop,
the NSCBIHL in its present form need to be viewed as a
stepping stone towards achieving that larger objective for the islands.
Equally significant is the changing civic temperament of the
islands. The
recent episode points to the emergence of a more aware, assertive and
participatory civic voice among the islands’ students and youth. The transition
from passive acceptance to informed and united expression of aspirations is the
hallmark of the maturation of the people’s democratic consciousness. It signals
that the islanders, particularly students, are no longer willing to remain
silent receivers but seek to be participants in the decision-making process.
The
moment may mark the beginning of the shift from the earlier perception of a
“deemed-to-be democracy” to one that is participatory in nature, where the
voices of those affected are heard and factored in before arriving at the concluding
decision. Governance, after all, derives strength not merely from authority but
from legitimacy built through consultation and mutual trust between
institutions and the people they serve.
Therefore,
with the student’s key demand accepted and academic continuity with the
existing affiliation secured, it is equally important for the students to
return to their academic pursuits. The unity and maturity displayed in
articulating their concerns have already demonstrated the strength of
collective engagement. Remaining issues can and should be pursued through institutional
channels without disrupting academic commitments. Ultimately, it is the
academic well-being and future of the students that are paramount.
The
establishment of a locally administered university in the islands is a moment
of collective pride. So does the recent course correction indicates a responsive
administration and responsible citizenship can complement each other in
arriving at an equitable and balanced decision. If this spirit of dialogue and
mutual respect endures, the islands may well look back on this episode as a defining
moment at which the islands began to move from a perceived “deemed-to-be
democracy” towards a democratic future.
Related Reading:
👉 Transition of A&N Islands higher education pushes students into academic uncertainity
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