Move to hire 'other' graduates as teachers in folklore varsity flayed

Graduates in folklore studies have opposed the decision of the Karnataka Folklore University, Haveri, to consider candidates with degrees in Kannada, English, Sociology and Psychology for teaching jobs.

The State government had issued a notification for filling up 19 vacant posts of professors, associate professors and assistant professors at the university.
At present, the university is accepting applications from the eligibile candidates. But the educational qualification stipulated in the notification has angered the graduates in folklore studies.

The university was started exclusively for folklore studies. Hence, only those with postgraduate and doctoral degrees in folklore studies and who have passed the National Eligibility Test (NET) should be considered for the posts. Graduates in other disciplines should not be considered at all, several aggrieved candidates said.

Fewer job options

Another important reason for considering only folklore graduates, the protesters point out, is that they have fewer job options elsewhere.

“When we are not considered for teaching jobs in Kannada, English, Sociology and Psychology, why consider others for posts meant exclusively for us?” they demanded.
Dr Kalegowda Nagavara, a scholar of folklore studies in the State, says postgraduates in folklore studies should be preferred as teachers since they would have had in-depth understanding of the subject.

“But as folklore studies is an interdisciplinary subject, the university should take a decision only after careful deliberations,” he cautioned.

The university’s vice-chancellor, Ambalike Hiriyanna, however, defended the decision, saying folklore studies should not be viewed from the “narrow” prism of only one language.

Need to expand realm

“At present, the university is limited to the study of folklore only from Karnataka. But we have to expand the university’s realm to the study of folklore from other languages as well.

“So this has been a well thought out step,” he said.

As for the folklore graduates’ concerns, Hiriyanna said that candidates with postgraduate degrees in English, Kannada, Sociology and Psychology would be considered only if they had PhDs in folklore studies.