Jamia Millia Islamia: A Glimpse into Growth, Grit, and Gaps

Jamia Millia Islamia, a century-old university, was founded with the purpose of educating Indians, sparking a cultural renaissance, and providing education free from colonial influence. In 2024, it earned the third position among the country’s universities in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). However, it is important to reflect on whether the reality on the ground fully aligns with the prestigious position that Jamia has achieved. This piece aims to constructively encourage the administration to continue working towards realizing the vision of the university’s founding fathers and ensuring that Jamia lives up to its remarkable legacy.

Jamia Millia Islamia, a century-old university, was founded with the purpose of educating Indians, sparking a cultural renaissance, and providing education free from colonial influence. In 2024, it earned the third position among the country’s universities in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), preceded by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (IISc Bangalore), and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), which secured the first and second ranks, respectively. This is the third time that JMI has taken a position in the Top 3 All India ranks including past NIRF rankings. These rankings hold significant value for aspiring students who dream of being part of such esteemed institutions. However, it is important to reflect on whether the reality on the ground fully aligns with the prestigious position that Jamia has achieved. This piece aims to constructively encourage the administration to continue working towards realizing the vision of the university’s founding fathers and ensuring that Jamia lives up to its remarkable legacy.

The issues at the ground level are numerous and concerning. The infrastructure of the classrooms requires urgent attention, with fans dangerously close to falling and lights flickering in a distracting manner. Hostels lack basic amenities such as washing machines, forcing residents to divert their focus from academics to unnecessary chores. Security is another pressing concern, as ID checks are sporadic due to an understaffed security team. This leaves the campus vulnerable to outsiders who may cause disturbances, making female students, in particular, feel unsafe.

Recent incidents, such as the suspension of a professor following sexual harassment allegations made by a BA Sanskrit student, highlight the need for more stringent measures to protect students and hold perpetrators accountable. The campus has also seen instances of student clashes and violence, a problem that is not unique to this university but should be addressed with urgency.

An ordinary day at the Ibn Sina Reading Hall on the first floor, which is open to both male and female students, turned chaotic when some male students began grabbing chairs and engaging in disruptive behavior, even targeting another student for assault. This creates an unsafe environment, especially for other male students, as there is a separate reading hall reserved exclusively for female students. These issues need immediate attention to ensure a safe and conducive atmosphere for learning.

There is a significant shortage of infrastructure, with seminar halls in departments like Sociology being used for regular classes due to a lack of proper classrooms. This has led to concerns about unequal access to resources, particularly in smart classes where the shortage of amenities such as projectors affects the learning experience. Many students have voiced concerns about the technological disparity between Engineering and Non-Engineering departments, though the higher fees charged to the former are often cited as a justification for this difference.

Another issue raised by students is the assignment of faculty members to subjects outside their areas of expertise, which has resulted in confusion and dissatisfaction. Moreover, students often find themselves entangled in internal politics among faculty members, further disrupting the academic environment.

In the Psychology department, students have expressed concerns about inadequate facilities, referring to the department as a “balcony” due to the lack of proper equipment for practical and limited lab space. The department consists of only 5-6 small rooms in a lobby, which also serves as office space. These issues highlight the urgent need for improved infrastructure and resources to ensure a more equitable and effective learning environment for all students.

In the Chemistry department, students reached out to TJR and told us that the rivalries between different branches are perennial and professors often pass unfavourable remarks against professors from other branches. Such petty rivalries are often passed on through how many research papers one has, an unhealthy measure that is astonishing when you compare it to the quality of teaching in the department. Apart from a few professors, very few have very thorough command on the basics of concepts being taught at the B.Sc. level. JMI might be a good university in terms of masters’ education but at the B.Sc. level, PhD scholars and inexperienced guest teachers are sent to teach in the classrooms.

This quality of teaching and infrastructure does not reflect the Rank 3 given to Jamia. Practical labs are often assigned to professors who have actually less idea about the practical than a lab assistant. The infrastructure is somewhat crumbling and needs revamp. Several instruments are not in adequate quantity and hence, students have to wait for weeks to complete one practical.

Jamia’s reservation policy while being inclusive of people from marginalized backgrounds, does not keep up with the teaching culture. Our education curriculum and style of teaching fails to recognize that merely providing students with the opportunity to study is not enough to remove history of social and educational backwardness. Students who come from far-flung rural areas do not have the high quality education that students from metropolitan cities get. Professors expect you to know jargon that they throw at students but this presumes that students have a level of schooling that has made them acquainted with basic concepts.

However, you’re expected to be familiar with it from the get go but not everyone has received the same level and quality of education and not everyone has access to the same repository or guidance. Jamia’s teaching must be mindful of the diverse backgrounds students come from and attempt to make them par in terms of basics and guide them a little better, so they are able to compete with other private school kids. Such level of understanding and sensitivity can be expected from a central university which is cognizant of who the students are, where are they coming from, and what they should or need to take away from a class.

Buildings in Jamia often do not have functional lifts and installed lifts are not repaired. In the NSB and History Dept, lifts have been shut down for the past two years. Many water coolers are also not functional and very few departments have cool and safe drinking water.

With the introduction of the Four-Year Undergraduate Programs (FYUP) starting from the 2024-2025 academic session, concerns about outdated curricula and syllabi have persisted. Students have voiced uncertainty about the content of the extended four-year programs, with many questionings, “What will they even teach in the additional year?” Similarly, students enrolled in the existing three-year programs have raised complaints about the continued use of outdated books, research materials, and teaching methodologies.

While addressing these concerns, it’s important to recognize that Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) continues to uphold its reputation as one of India’s premier institutions. Ranked third nationally, JMI boasts a distinguished faculty that excels on the global stage, contributing invaluable research and securing prestigious fellowships. Additionally, the university has consistently produced graduates who land high-paying positions, with packages reaching as high as 15-20 LPA, though the median package in recent years has remained around 7-8 LPA.

Beyond academics and placements, JMI’s commitment to inclusivity and fostering a culture of creative and progressive thinking is a significant achievement. The university has nurtured an environment that encourages critical thought and social awareness, equipping students to engage with the world in meaningful ways. This is not a criticism of the institution but rather a reflection of areas where there is room for improvement, alongside an acknowledgment of the remarkable strengths that make JMI an excellent place to learn and grow.

Written and Edited by the TJR Editorial Team