Prof Nishi Pandey becomes LU’s first woman proctor
LUCKNOW: Yet another male bastion was breached when prof Nishi Pandey took over as the first female chief proctor of the Lucknow University on Tuesday. She replaced prof Manoj Dixit who offered to step down following a series of law and order problems since the beginning of this academic session.
Soon after taking charge, the 57-year-old professor told HT, “My first priority will be to restore peaceful academic atmosphere on the campus where the mind is without fear and head is held high. The university of the people, by the people and for the people and we would like to build an atmosphere where students can study safely.”
When asked why the university named her as the proctor, Pandey said, “The university administration has the right to answer this question. Maybe they saw certain qualities in me and decided to appoint me as the proctor of this prestigious university. To be an alumna of the university and then taking over as the proctor is a big honour and a huge responsibility too. I solicit support of all students, colleagues and university offi- cial to make the university a better campus.”
Advising students to study hard and lead a respectable life, she said, “If they face any problem during their stay on the campus, they must report the matter to their teacher or the proctor’s office. Agitation and protest is not always the right thing to do.”
In her more than 27 years of teaching experience at the graduation, post graduation and post doctoral level, she has held many key administrative positions, including that of chief provost of boys hostel, dean student welfare and director of UGC Academic Staff College. In 2006 when former vice chancellor prof RP Singh decided to cleanse the university hostel from criminal elements, prof Nishi Pandey and prof Dixit worked together as a team to get campus free from tainted student leaders.
Presently head of English and Modern European Languages department in LU and manager of Avadh Girls Degree College, Pandey did her schooling from Loreto Convent, graduation from IT College, postgraduation from Lucknow University and post doctoral work from abroad. She has produced 25 PhD students and received the UP government’s highest award Saraswati Samman for her contribution to higher education.
She received the Fulbright Scholarship in 2005 and also received the Charles Wallace Trust Scholarship to study ‘ London Theatre Plays i n Performance’ at the University of London in 1995. The vice chancellor SB Nimse has wished Prof Pandey all the luck in her new assignment.
Is Prof Pandey first woman to become chief proctor of any university? No. Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth already has a woman chief proctor as Prof Kalplata Pandey. Sources also say that BHU has also seen women proctor. Besides, Prof Roop Rekha Verma held the office of vice chancellor for about a year in late 90s.