LOCATED off The Mall, Government College University (GCU), Lahore, has a rich legacy of producing graduates, with thought-provoking ideas. At both national and international levels, it has brought laurels for the nation.

The university boasts two Nobel Laureates and many legends in both social and natural sciences. The university is an oasis of social sciences in a country that is losing its flair for it.

Its students call themselves Ravians. The mantra of the university is ‘courage to know’, through which, students are taught how to develop a sense for understanding fault lines of conventional wisdom through critical thinking, thus enabling them to entertain diversity.

To me, GCU, through its current prequalification recruitment criteria for the post of lectureship, is not only blocking Ravians’ traditions of entertaining diversity in academia, but is also turning its back on its alumni from other provinces who, out of sheer passion, want to teach at their alma mater.

I appeal to all Ravians to show Ravian spirit, and take a stand in any possible capacity against the university’s administration compromising on their alma mater traditions.

I request the vice-chancellor to review prequalification recruitment criteria for applicants, and save diversity in academia at GCU by not overshadowing it with any specific ethnic identity.

Inam Ullah Marwat

Lahore

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2015

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