Page 38 - EW April 2023

Cover Story

INDIA’S TOP-RANKED PRIVATE tween private autonomous and non-

autonomous private undergrad colleg-
AUTONOMOUS ASC COLLEGES es, they are ranked separately in our
institutional ranking league tables. It’s
quite possible — indeed probable —
that a large number of school-leavers
would prefer to sign up with private
autonomous rather than tightly-con-
trolled non-autonomous colleges.
Just like the rankings of privately-
promoted non-autonomous colleges
are dominated by St. Stephen’s and
several colleges affiliated with the
relatively pampered Delhi University,
the league table of private autono-
mous colleges is dominated by St.
Xavier’s College, Mumbai (SXM)
top-ranked for the past four years.
Moreover, this league table is domi-
nated by colleges promoted by Chris-
tian education missionaries, some of
centuries vintage.
Indeed the annual EWIHER are
testimony to the huge contribution of
liberal Christianity which is increas-
St. Xavier’s, Mumbai principal Dr. Rajendra Shinde: autonomous status boon ingly being demonised by fringe ele-
ments of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak
An estimated 894 Arts, Science and Commerce (ASC) Sangh (RSS), the ideological mentor
undergraduate colleges have been conferred autonomous organisation of the ruling BJP at the
status by the University Grants Commission. They have full Centre and in several states. They
need to be educated that despite pros-
freedom to introduce new courses and draw up their own elytization charges against Christian
syllabuses and curriculums missionaries, Christians constitute
barely 2 percent of the citizenry and
that their contribution to Indian edu-
nder s.3 of the University awarded autonomy since 2010, St. cation is totally disproportionate.
Grants Commission Act, Stephen’s College, Delhi and several Unsurprisingly, Dr. Rajendra
1956, UGC has the discre- other Delhi colleges which have the Shinde, the unassuming and cheerful
Utionary power to confer required NAAC rating have not been principal of SXM, is delighted to learn
academic and administrative auton- awarded autonomy, and remain tied that this vintage college (estb.1869)
omy on higher education institutions to the apron strings of Delhi Univer- which has 4,500 top-ranked school-
(HEIs) awarded top A grading by the sity. leavers on its muster rolls, is ranked
National Assessment & Accreditation It’s also noteworthy that in this India’s #1 autonomous college for the
Council of India (NAAC), and which year’s EW India Higher Education fourth year consecutively. “I am very
in the commission’s opinion have an Rankings, the total score awarded to pleased that we are able to maintain
excellent track record of higher edu- St. Stephen’s is comfortably higher our quality and fulfill the ever-rising
cation delivery. Accordingly an esti- than to St. Xavier’s. Moreover, an es- expectations of society to keep our flag
mated 894 Arts, Science and Com- timated 83 government colleges with flying constantly at the top. All credit
merce (ASC) undergraduate colleges even lesser scores have been awarded to our dedicated faculty and enthusi-
countrywide have been conferred au- autonomy and are ranked separately astic, brilliant students’ community,”
tonomy by the commission. inter se in EWIHER 2023-24 (see p. says Shinde.
However, it is noteworthy that this 66). But not St. Stephen’s. Like God, In particular, Shinde believes that
power is discretionary and not always UGC also moves in mysterious ways. its autonomous status has enabled
exercised logically. For instance, while Be that as it may, to facilitate SXM to rise and shine. “As an auton-
St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai has been school-leaving students to choose be- omous college, we have full freedom

38 EDUCATIONWORLD APRIL 2023