Prof. Arjya Majumdar started teaching at the Jindal Global Law School after a seven-year stint in corporate law. Today he is the Director of Academic Planning, Coordination and Interdisciplinary, as well as the Director of Admissions and Outreach at JGU. Once an “aspiring tram driver” now puts students in the driver’s seat of their careers. The trained mountaineer, now enables them to scale new heights of personal and professional growth.

Prof. Majumdar’s training with Himalayan Mountaineering Institute not only ignited his passion for the environment but taught him an important lesson that when you surmount challenges whether physical or otherwise, you gain in self-confidence. It’s an important takeaway that he seriously hopes to imbibe in his students too. He taught himself to play the guitar when he was 16. It’s probably something to do with him being “intellectually curious” as he describes himself. And with time, he started realizing his passion for varied subjects and areas.

He quotes scientist Ian Malcolm from Jurassic Park as he tries to highlight the importance of interdisciplinarity in higher education. The characters in Hollywood blockbuster were so caught up in finding out whether they could clone dinosaurs that they forgot to ask the question; whether they should. “Those are two different questions from two different perspectives. That’s why interdisciplinary is important. It’s important for the holistic growth of students and in giving them broader perspectives,” he says.

 His favorite superheroes are Ironman and Batman. The reasoning is simple, “All other superheroes in DC and Marvel have superpowers. These two are among them because of their intellect, grit and sheer determination.” What fantastic qualities to learn from a superhero, we mean, a faculty, who practices what he actually preaches!

Finding his passion and the roller-coaster of Corporate Law

As a young boy growing up in pre-liberalized West Bengal, Prof. Majumdar nurtured his love for theater, culture and music. Growing up in a middle-class family background, along with the social and political milieu of Kolata dealing with frequent strikes in Kolkata meant things weren’t always easy. “It gave me a huge benefit in terms of opening my mind and my horizons. It was a brilliant time, which in many ways raised my intellectual curiosity, wanting to try out different things” he says.

By the time Prof. Majumdar had completed his high school education from St. Joseph’s College, his childlike interests of becoming a tram driver had evolved into being a journalist. The road to NUJS had actually put a spanner in his wheels. “The entrance test result made me realize that there are many learned people studying law, and that they think I might be worthy of it too. So, I gave it a shot, enjoyed it and soon after my BA LLB went to Tulane University, US for my Masters,” he adds.

Soon after his Masters, Prof. Majumdar joined the corporate law firm Fox & Mandal and stayed on for 4 years. Within three months of his joining the firm, he was asked to man their London office. It was practically unheard of for a first year Associate. The high was followed by the low of the 2008 global financial crisis. “I went without a salary for three months but continued to work. It was an interesting and humbling time,” he says in retrospect. He would go on to join Desai & Diwanji, another corporate law firm later on.

Industry’s loss, academia’s gain

Prof. Majumdar joined JGLS in 2013 and teaches corporate law and ancillary subjects at the university. He is also the Director for Academic Planning, Coordination and Interdisciplinarity and looks after the university’s rankings. “Within a span of ten years, the university have made it to the top 2.67% of all universities globally. We hope to better our position in the world rankings in the future. The quality of our alumni in the industry and our academic network gives us our reputation,” he says proudly.

Network and reputation to boast of

In a short span of 10 years, JGU has mustered 250 international collaborations with top universities around the world. Prof. Majumdar asserts that there has been a dedicated effort to be more international and this is revealed in the university’s research focus as well. “We offer substantial rewards to faculty members to publish in top journals. We consistently try to build as many quality partnerships all over the world as we can,” he speaks of the efforts.

What makes JGU global?

According to Prof. Majumdar, there are three distinct reasons why JGU is a truly global university. Firstly, the university hires faculty with at least one international degree or international experience. “Secondly, our courses are steeped in the globally accepted practices and conform to globally accepted curricula. Finally, our pedagogies are global in nature, like the emphasis on case studies, which is followed at Harvard Law School,” he explains.

Hurdles for interdisciplinarity in India

Traditionally India has tried to set itself apart through super specialty. As early as in class 11th students are asked to choose between Science, Commerce, Arts, Humanities etc. “The problem with this is that you fail to understand that there is a world beyond your discipline. A law student should know a bit about finance and business. How else do you advise a client on business law? That has become a cornerstone to our approach to interdisciplinarity,” he adds.

Interdisciplinarity at JGU

With its eight schools, JGU has an inherent advantage that lends itself to interdisciplinary learning. Prof. Majumdar talks about the cross-listed electives from different schools that can be chosen by all students at the University. “We find that the students who do take up the cross-listed electives tend to have a better understanding of the world they live in. For future professionals and leaders, it’s really important to have such holistic education,” he claims.

The man behind the academic

Ask Prof. Majumdar one world problem he would like to fix, and pat comes the reply – climate crisis. Anything he would like to change about his life? He ponders and says that he regrets not studying engineering or an MBA but adds that he wouldn’t trade his life at all. Book he wants to write? “It would be to my son telling him about my life and mistakes I have made. Hopefully he won’t follow mine but make his own.” It’s something he wishes for his students too.

•Seminar discusses emerging opportunities and interesting career options in the field of Law

•As the democratic institutions of India evolve, the country will gradually transition towards becoming a rule of law society; Vice Chancellor, JGU

New Delhi, April 2016: Most students hold the misconception that studying law is synonymous with cramming statutes and penal codes and offers little interest for people who do not want to make their careers as lawyers. However, for students who want to study humanities and develop critical thinking in the field, studying law can open their vision to much deeper and wider understanding.

NCR based O. P. Jindal University today organized a seminar in the national capital led by the Vice Chancellor Prof (Dr) C Raj Kumar who is also the Dean of the Jindal Global Law School. Talking on the pertinent question ‘Why Study Law’, Prof Kumar enlightened the attending students about various perspectives of law education and the deep intellectual understanding it can bestow on students.

Prof Kumar also spoke about the evolution of legal education in India and the multiple career options that students can pursue after studying the subject. He said the changing nature of the economy and society in the past two decades has enabled enormous diversification in the legal profession, which in turn has opened up a tremendous range of opportunities for students studying law.

“Last two decades have seen enormous diversification of the legal profession. Most lawyers or law graduates today from the leading law schools actually do not enter into litigation practice. Instead, they are pursuing a diverse range of options and opportunities that are available for them now, such as working for corporate law firms, trade and investment areas, non-governmental/inter-governmental organizations, human rights organizations, think tanks, research institutions, legal process outsourcing (LPOs), working as in-house counsel in companies and corporations both domestic and international. This has opened a range of possibilities for one to take up the study of law. Law helps you to challenge your thought process, develop analytical skills and negotiate better and actually work for the common interest of the society. Knowledge of law provides the foundation to understand the society,” said Prof Kumar.

The seminar was attended by a large number of young students, many of whom are contemplating different career options to suit their aptitude and intellectual strengths.

“Earlier in 80’s, law was not considered a important career option. However, times have changed now in our country for better. I strongly believe that the law and the study of law is to become most prominent and important not only as a discipline, but also as a career aspiration for young people because India is increasingly becoming a rule of law society, at least there is strong aspiration to establish a rule of law society. Secondly, we also believe that democratic institutions of India are evolving in a more responsible manner. Increasingly, law and justice will shape the nature of democratic governance that we are aspiring to achieve,” he added.

He said studying law not only trains you into becoming a lawyer but gives you the intellectual strength and problem solving capacity to excel in any career you take, be it public service, administration, academics, research, business enterprise or politics.

It is important to examine your aptitude before entering into this domain of study. One must not study law just because his/her parents were in the field or the profession looks attractive and glamorous.

The attending students also interacted with Prof Kumar and asked a number of questions and sought to clear their doubts and apprehensions about the subject.

Law is a wide and interesting field of study which not only trains students in interpreting statutes but provides them a deep perspective into the evolution of human race into civilizations governed by laws.

Studying the subject can equip students to pursue further studies in international relations, business studies, public policy, journalism, political science as well as other streams of humanities. So, if you have an inquisitive intellect and want to develop critical and abstract thinking, law is the subject for you.

Sonipat, March 8, 2016: Distinguished Hon. Mr. Justice Michael D. Wilson, Judge, Supreme Court of Hawai’i and Hon. Ms. Justice Sabrina S. McKenna, Judge, Supreme Court of Hawai’i have been appointed as “Honorary Adjunct Professors” at the Jindal Global Law School of the 91̽��.

Speaking on the occasion, Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) and Dean of Jindal Global Law School, said, “It is our proud privilege to welcome Justice Wilson and Justice McKenna as “Honorary Adjunct Professors” to our university.” Both these judges join another distinguished Indian judge, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dalveer Bhandari, Judge, International Court of Justice at The Hague who is also one of the Honorary Adjunct Professors of Jindal Global Law School. 

Professor Kumar further observed, “The founding vision of JGU is to promote global education across different disciplines led by appointment of faculty members from different parts of the world with outstanding academic qualifications and experience. The appointment of Justice Wilson and Justice McKenna as Adjunct Professors at Jindal Global Law School is a demonstration of our commitment towards global legal education while recognizing the need for giving opportunities to our students to gain perspectives and experiences that transcend geography and jurisdiction.”

The citation for their appointment as Honorary Adjunct Professors at Jindal Global Law School appreciated their contribution and reads as follows: “In profound recognition of their outstanding commitment towards protecting the rule of law and promotion of access to justice”.

Hon. Mr. Justice Michael D. Wilson, Judge, Supreme Court of Hawai’i is an eminent legal practitioner with outstanding credentials, Justice Wilson was appointed to the Hawai’i Supreme Court on April 17, 2014, after serving as a Circuit Court judge of the First Circuit since May 10, 2000.

Prior to his appointment as a Circuit Court judge, Justice Wilson was the director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Chair of the State Water Commission and a Trustee of the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission. Previously, he was a partner in the law firms of Pavey Wilson & Glickstein and Hart Wolff & Wilson.

Justice Wilson received his law degree from Antioch School of Law in Washington D.C., and bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was raised in Kailua in Hawaii and graduated from Kailua High School.

Hon. Ms. Justice Sabrina S. McKenna, Judge, Supreme Court of Hawai’I, is a justice of the five member Hawaii Supreme Court and was sworn in as Associate Justice on March 3, 2011. She is a graduate of the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and a 1982 graduate of the University Of Hawai’i William S. Richardson School Of Law, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review.

Justice McKenna was a civil litigator, corporate counsel, and law professor before becoming a Hawai’i state trial court judge in 1993. As a trial court judge, she presided in District, Circuit, and Family Courts, and also served as Senior Judge of the Family Court of the First Circuit.