The Impact of the Quota-Based System on Social Stratification Among The
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Eastern Michigan University DigitalCommons@EMU Master's Theses, and Doctoral Dissertations, and Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations Graduate Capstone Projects 2015 The impact of the quota-based system on social stratification among the students at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India Thyagarajan Vaidyanathan Ammachathram Follow this and additional works at: http://commons.emich.edu/theses Part of the Counseling Commons, and the Leadership Studies Commons Recommended Citation Ammachathram, Thyagarajan Vaidyanathan, "The impact of the quota-based system on social stratification among the students at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India" (2015). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 767. http://commons.emich.edu/theses/767 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Master's Theses, and Doctoral Dissertations, and Graduate Capstone Projects at DigitalCommons@EMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@EMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE IMPACT OF QUOTA-BASED SYSTEM AT IIT(M) THE IMPACT OF THE QUOTA-BASED SYSTEM ON SOCIAL STRATIFICATION AMONG THE STUDENTS AT THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, MADRAS, INDIA by Thyagarajan Vaidyanathan Ammachathram Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Leadership and Counseling Eastern Michigan University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Educational Leadership Dissertation Committee: David Anderson, Ph.D., Chair Jaclynn Tracy, Ph.D. Eboni Zamani-Gallaher, Ph.D. Polly Buchanan, Ph.D. December 19, 2015 Ypsilanti, Michigan ProQuest Number: 10007585 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. ProQuest 10007585 Published by ProQuest LLC (2016). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, MI 48106 - 1346 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My endless gratitude to my Dissertation Chair Dr. David Anderson for his unwavering support and encouragement over the years and the committee members, Drs. Eboni Zamani- Gallaher, Jackie Tracy, and Polly Buchanan for guiding me through my stimulating research journey. I would also like to thank my family and friends for all the support they have given me throughout my Doctoral program! DEDICATION To my beloved family… ABSTRACT This study attempted to identify the impact of the recent expansion in the quota system among Quota-Based Students (QBS) and General Category Students (GCS) at the Indian Institute of Technology (Madras) (IIT(M)). The study emphasized various institutional behaviors that affected the students and their educational endeavors and examined the impact of institutional practices on the students. This study examined some of the socialization practices of QBS and GCS based on Van Maanen and Schein’s (1979) work and revealed that hostels (residence halls) played a significant role especially among QBS educational endeavors at IIT(M). Van Maanen and Schein’s (1979) investiture socialization perspective was extensively evident among various student groups that were allowed by the institution to continue with their previous espoused values within the institution. Right from the admission criteria which is based on caste, numerous signs of social stratification reinforced the class hierarchy along with the existence of various aspects of deficit thinking among QBS at IIT(M). Existence of social stratification within the institution also portrayed traces of stigma consciousness among QBS at the IIT(M). Based on the findings of this research, the co-existence of QBS and GCS along with the emergence of social and academic streams was clearly evident at IIT(M). These two streams shared various similarities with Tinto’s (1988) formal and informal dimensions model. How these groups of students managed to survive in harmony without divesting their Schein’s artifacts, espoused values and underlying assumptions is one of the major outcomes of this study. The results of this study have recommended various strategies to develop programs that will improve the institutional experience and help gain better educational equity among QBS and GCS at IIT(M), India. Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...........................................................................................................................................................................................ii ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................iv CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND.........................................................................................................1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................................................................1 Indian Educational System.........................................................................................................................................................................1 Caste System...…………………………………………………………………………...…………………………………………………………2 Quota System in India...……………………………………………………………………………...……………...………………………9 Research Question...………………………………………………………………………………...…………..……………………………12 CHAPTER 2: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK...............................................................................................................................16 Proposed Conceptual Framework………………………………………………………...……………………………………….17 Previous Empirical Research...……………………………………………………………………………………………………….20 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY.......................................................................................................................................................................28 Type of Study……………………………………………………………...…………………………………………………………………….29 Unit of Analysis………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………….31 Study Design……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..32 Information Analysis...…………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………….32 Institution and Selection of Participants…………………………………………...…………………………………………33 CHAPTER 4: RESULTS..............................................................................................................................................................................................37 Expansion of IIT educational system in India………………………………………………….………………………...37 IIT Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE) and Ranking System……………….…………….……………39 Introduction to Indian Institute of Technology (Madras)………………………………………………………..40 Structure of Hostels at Indian Institute of Technology (Madras)…..………………….…………………...49 Saarang and Shaastra……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….54 CHAPTER 5: HOSTEL STORIES AT INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MADRAS)……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..57 Godavari Hostel..................................................................................................................................................................................................57 Jamuna Hostel…………………………………………………………………………...……………………………...……………………….67 Alakananda Hostel………………………………………….……………………...………………………………………………………...72 Mandakini Hostel……………………………………………………………...……………………………………………………………...77 Sharavati Hostel…………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………….82 CHAPTER 6: EMERGING THEMES FROM HOSTEL STORIES…........................................................................85 Hostel Spirit Among QBS and GCS………………………………………………...……………...…………………………...85 Adequate and Inadequate Campus Facilities.......................................................................................................................86 Peer Groups and Peer Pressure……………………………………………...………….…………………………………………...91 Studying to Learn vs. Graduating to Earn.…………………………………………..……………………………………...98 Low Self-Esteem, Fears and Deficits……………………………………………………………...…...………………………99 Social Competition over Academic Competition……………………………………………………………………101 CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSIONS.........................................................................................................................................................................105 Conceptual Framework after Data Analysis……………………………………………….……………………………106 QBS (Social Stream): Social achievement was valued over Academic achievement….…106 GCS (Academic Stream): Academic achievement valued over Social achievement……...107 Enablers that keep streams separate……………………………………………………………..…………………………….107 CHAPTER 8: IMPLICATIONS .......................................................................................................................................................................114 Future Study………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………..132 REFERENCES......................................................................................................................................................................................................................134