The Sociology Department at Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi recently displaced five ad-hoc faculty members.

Recently, we became aware that the Sociology Department at Indraprastha College for Women (IPCW), University of Delhi displaced five ad-hoc faculty members when they replaced them with newly-hired, less-qualified assistant professors. The five displaced teachers shaped the department into the supportive, intellectual space it is today over the last six years since its inception. They were the running the department and built it from the bottom up. But to their surprise, their dedication to the department was not met with the opportunity for promotion when new positions became available.

Having worked with some of these sociologists and awarded some of their students through our “Why is Sociology Important?” global student essay competition, we are publishing this as a statement of solidarity with them. We know first hand the positive impact of the educational environments they create and encourage you to read the following work from their inspiring students:

• A Room of One’s Own and More?
• Access to Public Space: Social Mobility and Gender in India
• What is Sociology, and Why is it Important to Society?
• Why is Sociology Important? One Sociology Honors Student’s Perspective
• Doing Sociology: Creating a Space for Everyone

As proud colleagues of these sociologists and their students, we stand with the ad-hoc sociology faculty of IPCW and are in favor of them having the opportunity to continue in their invaluable roles in the college’s Sociology Department.