For over 18 years, the lights have stayed on in one of India's most prestigious theatre departments, but its faculty lounge echoes with emptiness. Panjab University's Department of Indian Theatre, the celebrated cradle that nurtured legends of Bollywood and stage, is fighting for its academic survival, crippled by an unprecedented and prolonged hiring freeze.
A Legacy Institution Left With a Skeleton Crew
The department, founded by the iconic playwright Balwant Gargi, has not seen a single permanent faculty appointment since 2007. This administrative paralysis has reduced its teaching strength to just one regular academic. The crisis deepened in 2021 following the departure of faculty member Shveta Mahendra, leaving Assistant Professor Navdeep Kaur as the sole permanent teacher steering the entire Master of Arts programme and guiding doctoral research.
This stark reality exists despite the department's undisputed status as a cornerstone of Indian dramatic arts and a vital artery feeding talent into the country's film and theatre industries. Its alumni roster is a glittering testament to its legacy, featuring luminaries like Anupam Kher, Kirron Kher, Poonam Dhillon, and the late Satish Kaushik.
Glacial Pace of Recruitment and Mounting Frustration
While the university finally initiated a recruitment process for two assistant professor positions in 2022, progress has been painfully slow. Although candidate screening was completed earlier this year, the crucial interview stage remains unscheduled, leaving the department in a state of suspended animation.
This nearly two-decade-long vacancy has ignited frustration and concern among both current students and its illustrious former pupils. They argue the university is neglecting a crucial piece of India's cultural heritage.
"When a department with such historical significance remains understaffed for nearly two decades, it's not just a procedural lag — it's a misplaced priority," stated actor and 2014 alumnus Jagjeet Sandhu.
Echoing the sentiment, filmmaker Gabbar Sangrur (2007 batch) described the department as a "lamp of light" that needs consistent academic fuel to keep burning bright. Current students, who spoke anonymously, highlighted the practical difficulties, noting that the reliance on temporary staff creates "uncertainty around curriculum planning and research guidance."
A Promise to Expedite and Preserve a Legacy
Facing growing outcry, University Vice-Chancellor Professor Renu Vig has acknowledged the urgency of the situation. She has promised decisive administrative action to break the long-standing stalemate.
"We will expedite the recruitment and ensure that the appointments are completed," assured Prof. Vig. "The department's needs will be addressed on priority."
The entire academic and artistic community now watches closely, hoping this promise translates into swift action. The survival of a department that has scripted countless success stories for Indian cinema now hinges on the university administration finally remembering its own lines and delivering a performance that saves this iconic institution.
