Ashoka Alumni Body Starts Conversation on Diversity
On January 12, members of the Global IIM Alumni Network moved the Gujarat High Court on the basis of claims that the institution has not followed the designated reservation policy, as is required by the Constitution of India, in its PhD programme. This position has been taken by the IIM Alumni Network because several members believe that IIM Ahmedabad has not fulfilled its “legal obligation” as outlined in the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act 2006. Thus, due to their frustration with the lack of a reasonable amount of diversity the Network felt forced to move to the High Court for deliberation.
These recent developments in IIM Ahmedabad have generated a similar debate in the Ashoka Alumni Association. Ashoka University is a University Grants Commission (UGC) approved private university, and while it does not have an affirmative action policy for admissions it follows a need-blind policy of admission and provides financial aid to any applicant who has been admitted. Currently, 51% of the undergraduate student body is on financial aid.
The Ashoka Alumni Association comprises a Council which has six directors and a president, the Council is a part of a larger Alumni Body. Recently elections for a new Council took place; and while the newly elected Council has not taken office yet, the move by the IIM Alumni Network has prompted both the old and new Ashoka Alumni Councils to begin conversations on diversity at Ashoka. A member of the Body, who does not wish to be named, told the Edict, “all members of the Body are aware of the situation, and preliminary discussions have started within the Council”.
When the Edict reached out to the new President of the Alumni Council, Ashweetha Shetty for a comment she mentioned “I recently attended the diversity and inclusivity hangout organised by both the councils. We are deliberating on [the] next steps”. The Ashoka Alumni Body does not possess any executive powers, it can make only recommendations to the administration of the university. Currently there are over 1200 members registered in the Ashoka Alumni Community, Young India Fellows and undergraduate students included.
Secondary sources: https://thewire.in/214565/iim-ahmedabad-reservations-alumni-gujarat-hc/
https://medium.com/the-edict/the-edicts-aaa-election-2018-coverage-2a4aea67e952
