Happymon Jacob Leaves JNU; Joins Shiv Nadar University As Visiting Faculty
New Delhi: Renowned international relations scholar and author Happymon Jacob has bid farewell to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) after nearly 17 years, taking voluntary retirement to embark on new academic ventures. In a social media post, Prof Jacob said that he will be joining as Distinguished Visiting Professor at Shiv Nadar University.
Prof Jacob described his departure as the “end of one chapter and the beginning of another.” In a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter), viewed over 40,000 times within hours, he reflected on JNU’s transformative influence. “From the moment I arrived on JNU campus, I was deeply captivated by this place. It was, as they say, love at first sight – a place that was both deeply intellectual and vibrantly political, just as I wanted it,” he wrote.
The Kerala-born academic, who joined JNU’s School of International Studies in 2008 as an Associate Professor of Diplomacy and Disarmament, leaves behind a legacy of mentorship and innovation. Over his tenure, Jacob supervised around 20 PhD students, many of whom have ascended to prominent roles in academia and policy, teaching at universities in India and abroad. He introduced groundbreaking courses on nuclear disarmament, India’s foreign policy, and national security, fostering the “rebellious energy” of master’s classrooms and the “thoughtful” rigour of doctoral seminars.
His post evoked JNU’s unique ethos: “the passionate post-dinner discussions, the spirited late-night debates at our dhabas, the unmissable politics around you.”
Prof Jacob’s journey to JNU was marked by prior stints at Jamia Millia Islamia University and the University of Jammu, alongside research roles at think tanks like the Observer Research Foundation and Delhi Policy Group. At JNU, he founded the Council for Strategic and Defence Research (CSDR), a New Delhi-based outfit focused on security and disarmament, and serves as editor of India’s World magazine.
His prolific output includes the acclaimed book Line on Fire: The India’s China Border Dispute (Oxford University Press, 2024), alongside columns in The Hindu and Hindustan Times, and contributions to Foreign Affairs and TIME. An elected member of the Pugwash Council since 2013, Prof Jacob’s commentary on global conflicts – from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific – has cemented his status as a public intellectual.
Here’s Prof Jacob’s full statement:
“Personal update:
This morning, I joined the Shiv Nadar University as a Distinguished Visiting Professor.
I recently took voluntary retirement from JNU after close to 17 years of service at this wonderful university.
End of one chapter; and the beginning of another one.
From the moment I arrived on JNU campus, I was deeply captivated by this place. It was, as they say, love at first sight – a place that was both deeply intellectual and vibrantly political, just as I wanted it.
Everything about JNU has a way of teaching you something: the passionate post-dinner discussions, the spirited late-night debates at our dhabas, the unmissable politics around you, the rebellious energy of the MA classrooms, and the more disciplined and thoughtful Ph.D. students.
I was also deeply moved and humbled by the struggles many of our students faced to reach JNU and survive, and then thrive, in this intellectual powerhouse – and how so many of them emerged as true gems, both as wonderful human beings and great intellectuals.
I have had a truly fulfilling and life-changing run at JNU: Supervised some 20 Ph.D. students and introduced and taught several courses. Many of my students have gone on to achieve remarkable things, including teaching at universities across India and abroad.
When I look back at my innings here, seventeen years is a big part of a person’s life, but at JNU, it feels like a lifetime. This place has transformed me in profound ways.
It’s time to make life decisions, because life is short.
I want to travel the world, dedicate myself to more writing, pick new hobbies and who knows what else life is going to throw at me!!”
