Breaking Barriers: Women Teachers launch third front in PUTA race
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ March 24,2026
With a strong message that “women can lead from the front to challenge oppression,” two faculty members of Punjabi University have announced the formation of a third front for the upcoming Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA) elections.
Dr. Monica Chawla, Professor in the Department of Law, is contesting for the post of President, while Dr. Nimmi, Assistant Professor at the Punjab School of Law, is in the fray for the post of Secretary. Both candidates are contesting under the banner of the Teachers’ Association for Growth and Transformation (TAGT), which they describe as a platform committed to progressive and non-controversial leadership.
Outlining their vision, the candidates said TAGT aims to work with honesty for the welfare, growth, and dignity of the teaching fraternity. “We are committed to promoting transparency, equality, and development in the University’s academic and administrative framework. We will strongly urge the Government to enhance the University’s budget for its holistic transformation and will consistently pursue the release of 81 months of pending arrears since 2016 with the Government and University authorities,” they stated.
Emphasizing that their initiative is not driven by vested interests, the candidates said their primary goal is to restore Punjabi University’s lost glory. “We are not here for petty politics, but for the genuine welfare of the teaching faculty,” they added.
Highlighting their resolve, they noted that they have already challenged prevailing power structures within the University. “We have broken the long-standing belief that no one can stand against or question authoritarian tendencies within the system. We took a stand for women’s dignity and will continue this fight to its logical conclusion, despite all odds,” they asserted.
On the other hand, the teachers are supporting their vision and ideas. A group of senior faculty members remarked, “This time, we see them as a replacement for the old parties. In the past, both the current and former groups have joined hands after winning elections. Now, however, we have a third front that brings a vision of growth, transparency, and, most importantly, bold leadership who dares to raise their voice against dictatorship.”
Appealing to the teaching community, the candidates urged voters to support their vision. “We request our colleagues to vote for growth, for courage to challenge oppression, to end the era of authoritarianism, and to bring meaningful transformation and development to the University,” they said.
