Pune: Dr. Tara Bhavalkar, president of the 98th All India Marathi Literary Conference and a scholar of folk literature, has called for greater autonomy for university vice-chancellors, emphasizing that their role is increasingly restricted by governmental mandates.

Speaking at the All India Marathi Literary Conference in Delhi, Dr. Bhavalkar highlighted the diminishing authority and prestige of vice-chancellors, who are often bound by government directives. "Vice-chancellors should have the autonomy to make decisions for their universities without external interference," she asserted.

Dr. Bhavalkar also voiced concerns over the declining status of Marathi in the education system. She stressed the need for students to receive education in Marathi at least up to the 10th standard, criticizing the trend in English-medium schools where Marathi is relegated to a secondary subject. She further pointed out that the number of college students opting for Marathi as a subject is steadily decreasing, which has led to difficulties for professors specializing in the language.

Illustrating her concerns, Dr. Bhavalkar recounted an incident from her professional experience. She recalled that a Gujarati-dominated management board at her former institution failed to recognize the authority of the principal, with a board member casually occupying the principal’s chair. Another senior member had to intervene, reminding him that the chair symbolized the principal’s authority.

"This erosion of respect for academic leadership is a worrying trend," she remarked, emphasizing that educational institutions should be granted greater autonomy to maintain their integrity and function effectively.