Indian Studies Department, University Malaya & the recent appointment of a non Indian acting head: Some reflections

By Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria

The recent move by University Malaya to appoint an acting Head who is a non Indian to head the department raises much concern regarding matters pertaining with appointments and management of academic centres and departments in public universities.

It is rumored that the appointment was made as a temporary arrangement as this was the only way out when the appointment of an Indian as the head was unacceptable to other Indians in the department. The issue is seen as infighting within the department and the only way was for the administration to appoint a non Indian with the academic background in an acting position to bring some solution to this administrative conflict among the Indian faculty within the department.

There is an outcry from Indian based political parties and the community on this appointment which is seen as yet another attempt in eroding the identity, position and role of the Malaysian Indian community.

However I would like to expound an alternate view in the light of the PM’s 1Malaysia concept. We must from now on begin to disengage using a race or ethnic framework and shift it more towards merit, qualifications, expertise and performance especially in academic institutions.

The central criteria for any appoint as head, professor, associate professor and becoming a lecture should be based not on ethnicity but expertise, academic achievements. In the case of the Indian Studies Department then language and cultural expertise are essential dimensions as core competencies.

The criteria of qualifications, academic performance and subject expertise should be the criteria for selection. This is already applied in other fields like American, European studies in local public Universities. None Americans and non Europeans are currently teaching these subjects in Malaysia.

If one applied such a principle then the Head of Malay Studies could be a non-Malay and in the case of Chinese Studies a non-Chinese could be appointed. What is most critical is does the individual appointed have the academic expertise with the required credentials. This is the way forward for Malaysia where we must transcend racial and ethnic thinking by providing equal opportunities to all.

In a similar way, institutions such as Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka must also being to recruit non Malays who have the expertise in the Malaya language. Likewise encouraging cross cultural and linguistic studies among Malaysians is essential.

There is also an urgent need for University Malaya to review the Department of Indian Studies and its contemporary relevance in a globalised world. We know that the Department was established in 1956 and has had some outstanding academics such as Prof Arasaratnam and Prof KS Sandhu and many others. There are hundreds of graduates who have graduated from this department and have made lasting contributions to Malaysian society.

We also know that the current focus of the department is on linguistic, literature, religious and socio-cultural heritage of the Indian community. However the department has been weak in the historical, socio-political and economic aspects on the Indian community as no major research has been undertaken or published in this area on par with the works of Arasratnam or KS Sandhu. This dimension with economist, sociologist, anthropologist, political and historical aspects must be strengthened.

In addition should not the department also incorporate India and South Asian Studies and therefore become a more dynamic institution in the light of the political, economic, social and intellectual developments in India and South Asia today? Should it not become more contemporary and relevant with the newly emerged field of Diaspora studies especially on the global Indian community?

It is therefore imperative for us all to ask what is the way forward for this department in modern Malaysia in the context of globalization? Would the University consider hosting a Round Table Discussion among academic and community groups to see how this department can continue to provide outstanding intellectual leadership in Malaysia.