Sikh Chairs in North America an Opinion - Global Sikh Studies
Sikh Chairs in North America an Opinion - Global Sikh Studies
Sikh Chairs in North America an Opinion - Global Sikh Studies
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Most - though not all- universities have endowed chairs usually established <strong>in</strong> the name<br />
of a generous donor. This “Chair” is usually <strong>in</strong> a specific discipl<strong>in</strong>e of teach<strong>in</strong>g or<br />
research. An endowed chair me<strong>an</strong>s a tenured, lifetime position awarded to <strong>an</strong> established<br />
scholar who already has a dist<strong>in</strong>guished track record. It is truly <strong>an</strong> honor bestowed – a<br />
recognition gr<strong>an</strong>ted by the academic community <strong>an</strong>d the University. A rare professor<br />
gets such <strong>an</strong> honor; most professors never do. A new PhD at the untenured r<strong>an</strong>k of <strong>an</strong><br />
Instructor or <strong>an</strong> Assist<strong>an</strong>t Professor would emphatically never hold a chair.<br />
We are not aware of <strong>an</strong>y endowed chairs that are <strong>an</strong> exception to the above guidel<strong>in</strong>es –<br />
except the so-called “<strong>Sikh</strong> <strong>Chairs</strong>. By establish<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Sikh</strong> <strong>Chairs</strong> we are, <strong>in</strong> a sense,<br />
provid<strong>in</strong>g lifetime, tenured positions to new, young scholars who have no proven track<br />
record <strong>an</strong>d, rightly, should be lower end of the academic marketplace for appo<strong>in</strong>tments,<br />
promotion, tenure <strong>an</strong>d research fund<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
V. Specific Recommendations <strong>in</strong> the Case of <strong>Sikh</strong> <strong>Studies</strong><br />
Clearly we support the idea of community fund<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>Sikh</strong> <strong>Studies</strong> but we c<strong>an</strong>not endorse<br />
the concept of “<strong>Sikh</strong> <strong>Chairs</strong>” as presently constituted. The questions then are how best to<br />
m<strong>an</strong>age fund<strong>in</strong>g for such programs <strong>an</strong>d what to expect from the holders of such positions.<br />
We believe that new PhD scholars should compete <strong>in</strong> the academic marketplace to f<strong>in</strong>d<br />
appo<strong>in</strong>tments <strong>in</strong> the departments of religion, history, <strong>an</strong>thropology, <strong>an</strong>d South Asi<strong>an</strong><br />
<strong>Studies</strong> etc, depend<strong>in</strong>g upon their area of specialization. Examples of such appo<strong>in</strong>tments<br />
exist with scholars of <strong>Sikh</strong>ism <strong>in</strong> the history departments of the University of Otago,<br />
Louisi<strong>an</strong>a State University, <strong>an</strong>d also <strong>in</strong> the departments of religion at Colby College <strong>an</strong>d<br />
Gettysburg College.<br />
These scholars should then apply for funds to support their specific research <strong>an</strong>d, <strong>in</strong> some<br />
cases, even their salary, whether <strong>in</strong> whole or <strong>in</strong> part. In other words we are suggest<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
fund<strong>in</strong>g model somewhat like that of NIH discussed above.<br />
The question here is: C<strong>an</strong> one support research without support<strong>in</strong>g a Chair? We say, yes.<br />
Support graduate fellowships. Provide research funds, travel funds, publication costs,<br />
funds for research assist<strong>an</strong>ts <strong>an</strong>d staff. Provide gr<strong>an</strong>ts where part or whole of faculty<br />
salary c<strong>an</strong> also be covered.<br />
In other words, why not provide gr<strong>an</strong>ts for research projects like the NIH, NSF <strong>an</strong>d m<strong>an</strong>y<br />
private foundations do? Let <strong>in</strong>dividual scholars submit a proposed research project with<br />
a reasonable budget for it. Such a gr<strong>an</strong>t c<strong>an</strong> also be for curricular development or for a<br />
course to be taught. This way <strong>Sikh</strong> <strong>Studies</strong> Programs c<strong>an</strong> be established without<br />
attach<strong>in</strong>g to them a lifetime guar<strong>an</strong>tee of a job. This also lets the fund<strong>in</strong>g agency<br />
determ<strong>in</strong>e which research project is meritorious <strong>an</strong>d deserves support <strong>an</strong>d which is not.<br />
Major adv<strong>an</strong>tages of such a model would be 1) <strong>in</strong>creased competitiveness <strong>an</strong>d 2) it would<br />
not matter where or with whom the particular scholar tra<strong>in</strong>ed. What would matter would