Nagpur: NUTA Bulletin, the official journal of Nagpur University Teachers’ Association (NUTA), has completed 50 years of uninterrupted publication, emerging as an important record of the teachers’ movement and developments in higher education.Launched in 1976, Bulletin consistently carried documented information on professional issues affecting teachers, proceedings of the Legislative Council, decisions of Union and Maharashtra govts and University Grants Commission, besides relevant court orders. Anil Dhage, former NUTA secretary, said the publication had helped teachers remain informed and prepared to respond to challenges affecting their professional lives.Before 1976, NUTA published issue-specific booklets authored by its then president, Prof B T Deshmukh, the former MLC, who passed away in June. These included The Upcoming College Code, Why Teachers Took To Road, New University Bill and material on revised pay scales. Association later introduced the regular fortnightly Bulletin, which continues to be sent free to life members.One of its most important roles came during struggle over the fourth pay revision. After the nationwide teachers’ strike of 1987, Maharashtra teachers continued their agitation when govt sought changes to the central pay-revision scheme, particularly an increase in workload.During the indefinite strike that began on Dec 12, 1988, NUTA began publishing Bulletin daily to counter what it described as misleading govt claims. Nine special issues were published between Dec 13 and 23, excluding holidays, and distributed to legislators and the press.The special editions presented documents relating to UGC’s position on workload. A communication from then UGC chairperson Prof Madhuri Shah had clarified the workload break-up was ‘for the sake of example’ and ‘not a rigid breakup’. The campaign helped strengthen teachers’ position and was followed by negotiations between govt and teachers, culminating in a consensus.Bulletin also expanded beyond professional issues, documenting concerns such as Vidarbha’s development backlog, irrigation and drinking-water supply.Its production has evolved from cyclostyling and hand distribution to computerised publishing. Since 2015, its presentation has undergone a major transformation, while NUTA’s website now provides free access worldwide to issues dating from 1995 onwards.NUTA has marked important milestones through special publications. In 2001, it brought out 11 special issues during Bulletin’s silver jubilee year, including an index of issues published from 1976 to 2000. In 2013, its Secretary’s Reports chronicled NUTA’s own journey. This year’s special issues document Association’s struggles over pay revisions, pensions and establishment of a tribunal.Dhage attributes Bulletin’s uninterrupted 50-year journey to the commitment of NUTA members, office-bearers and leaders, particularly Prof Deshmukh.For five decades, Bulletin has thus served as both a communication platform and an institutional archive of Maharashtra’s teachers’ movement.BOX — Golden Jubilee Celebrations On Aug 23NUTA will celebrate Golden Jubilee of its official publication, NUTA Bulletin, at a function on Aug 23 at Amravati University’s (AU) KG Deshmukh Sabhagruha at 11 am. Former AIFUCTO general secretary Prof Asok Barman will deliver the Golden Jubilee address. AU VC Milind Barhate and senior Bombay High Court counsel Firdos Mirza will grace the occasion. The function will be presided over by Prof SP Lawande, former president of MFUCTO. NUTA president Prof PB Raghuvanshi and secretary Dr Nitin C Kongre have invited all members to attend
