Innovation, a struggle in BU

If research in science here is passable, that in the humanities is simply shoddy with most topics chosen for dissertation being just claptrap. A vast number of research work mocks the sanctity of sustained intellectual labour. A quick glance at some of the topics is enough to confirm this. A key reason for the poor quality of research in arts is the abstractness of many areas - quantifying or establishing them is a daunting task. Agreed that carrying out a quality work of research is no child's play. It requires dedication, consistent hard work, enough time, and adequate resources. But, that’s no excuse for passing off bunkum stuff as “research”.  

Dr Venugopal KR, Principal, Bangalore University's Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, explains that research in arts is more about imagination than experimentation unlike in science or engineering.

"Usually, students with poor academic record choose arts and later end up becoming teachers. When the base is weak, the top cannot be strong," he reasons.  

According to him, the mere lure of incentives and other gains will never produce worthwhile research work. “Research in the humanities is vital for framing public policies. We should know the poverty levels, the economic backwardness, the illiteracy rate, etc to improve people’s lives,” he says.  

NR Shetty, former BU Vice Chancellor, says lack of emphasis on research at the undergraduate level in the affiliated colleges is behind the sorry state-of-affairs.

"How can you expect students hitherto unaware of research to produce high-quality work? They should be innovative at the UG level as research requires sincere effort," he points out. Another reason is that teaching is still the last resort for the best brains.
Agreeing, K Puttaraju, former Head, Department of Communication, says the UGC's guideline on research has a flip side to it: “Most teachers carry out research only for hedonism and incentives. They lack the urge from within.”

On the disconnection of research with the society, KG Lokesh, former President, Bangalore University College Teachers' Association (BUCTA), says pathetic service conditions of teachers in unaided colleges are to be blamed. "With those conditions, they can produce nothing but gibberish," he says.

Lack of proper mechanism in research is another reason. “A separate wing comprising academicians and policy makers should suggest topics of relevance,” he points out. To avoid most theses gathering dust, Lokesh suggests their inclusion in the curriculum for wider reach. Dr R Rajesh, Reader, Department of Sociology, however, thinks that research need not be connected with people’s lives. "Only a part of it may come handy in improving the common folk's lives."

Asha Ganesh, Principal, CB Bhandari Jain College for Women, thinks that lack of facilities and encouragement is behind poor research. "Guides don’t help the candidates in choosing useful topics."