Even as the process of selection for the post of Vice-Chancellor of Akka Mahadevi Women’s University in Vijayapura is under way, a social media campaign has begun to demand appointment of an academician from North Karnataka to the post.
Ironically, so far, none from North Karnataka have been appointed to the State’s first women’s university that was established considering the recommendations of the Nanjundappa Committee on redressing regional imbalance.
As many as 22 years have passed since the establishment of the university and none of the five women vice-chancellors appointed so far have been from North Karnataka.
The vice-chancellors who have served the university are Sayeda Akhtar (Shivamogga), Geeta Bali (Bengaluru), Meena Chandavarkar (Mumbai), Sabiha Bhoomi Gowda (Mangaluru) and B.K. Tulasimala (Mysuru). At the time of their appointments too, similar voices were raised about the need for North Karnataka representation.
Recommendation ignored?
This time too, the developments point to a person from South Karnataka being appointed to the post of vice-chancellor.
According to sources, the names recommended by the search committee headed by the former Vice-Chancellor of Hampi Kannada University Mallika Ghanti have been ignored in favour of an academician from South Karnataka, which has irked academicians and leaders from the region.
The names recommended by the search committee included Vijaya Korishetti, who heads Sociology Department, and Onkargouda Kakade, who heads the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication in the women’s university.
Meanwhile, another charge is that while a number of academicians from South Karnataka are being appointed for universities across Karnataka, the number of those from North Karnataka getting such positions in South Karnataka is few.
Letter to CM
Taking note of the development, Member of Parliament Jagadish Shettar has already written to the Chief Minister urging him to consider academicians from the North Karnataka region for vice-chancellor’s post in the women’s university this time.
Meanwhile, a social media campaign demanding appointment of academicians from North Karnataka to the vice-chancellor’s position has been launched.
Journalist and social activist Shivanand Metyal, who is coordinating the social media campaign, said that the objective is to highlight the “injustice” meted out to North Karnataka. “Despite having highly qualified academicians from the region, people from South Karnataka are preferred for such positions,” he said.
Published – June 09, 2025 06:00 pm IST
