Krishnamoorthy, a first-year master’s student in Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Madras — one of India’s oldest and most revered institutions — is grappling with an unsettling academic reality.

With 65% of sanctioned teaching positions lying vacant, he and many peers face a growing crisis as mid-december exams approach, unsure if they have been adequately prepared.

Once brimming with enthusiasm, Krishnamoorthy had anticipated a vibrant academic experience enriched by diverse perspectives and rigorous discussions, hallmarks celebrated by the university’s distinguished alumni, including former presidents, nobel laureates, and eminent scholars. However, the reality has been starkly different.

Scheduled classes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. frequently shrink to just three hours, often with last-minute cancellations. This disruption stems from a severely understaffed department operating with only two full-time assistant professors—one doubling as the head-in-charge and slated for retirement soon—and reliance on guest lecturers who bear the brunt of the teaching load.

The department head, burdened by administrative duties, handles a single subject, while the other professor juggles multiple courses. This chronic shortage has left significant portions of the syllabus uncovered, deepening student anxiety and casting a shadow over their academic futures.

As teaching vacancies persist, the University of Madras risks compromising the very excellence it has long been known for, leaving students like Krishnamoorthy caught in the fallout of systemic neglect.