A Conversation with Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Madhuri Kanitkar, Former Vice Chancellor, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS)
What drew you to becoming Vice Chancellor at MUHS, and what did you find when you arrived?
I had an extremely rewarding career in the armed forces, retiring as a Lieutenant General, with deep experience in both clinical leadership and administration. I served on the Prime Minister’s Scientific Technical Advisory Committee and the Board of Governors for the Medical Council of India. What really affected me was the changing scenario of the medical profession, I felt it was ailing, and someone needed to treat it. When I felt I was in a position to do something, I thought I must jump in. When I arrived at MUHS, I found there was not a single woman in any statutory post, no Pro-VC, no Registrar, no Controller of Examinations. And yet female student enrolment was 50–60% across most streams, and 80% in nursing. They started with such an advantage but were hardly present in any decision-making role. That bothered me deeply.
What resistance did you encounter as a woman leader, and how did you navigate it?
When I applied for the post, some people asked me if my husband was okay with the idea.That amused me. I answered that I never find it a challenge, and my husband has always supported me, so I don’t need to take permissions. Inside the university, the resistance was constant. Whenever I tried to bring about change, in the examination system, evaluation, appraisal, inspections, the response was: “This is not how it’s done. The university has been here for 25 years.” When I promoted women to academic roles, by merit, opponents would not resist me directly, but they would make things difficult for the women themselves. My approach was to rule with my head but lead with my heart. I got to know individuals, listened to their problems, took their HR issues to government level and got them resolved. I organized treks and picnics well beyond my role as Vice Chancellor. That dual approach-built trust, and a slow transformation started showing results.