Hyderabad, September 06:mass protest for appointment of a permanent vicechancellor. The varsity has been functioning without a regular vicechancellor for the past 14 months after retirement of Abhay Moray in June 2010.
The protests began with a Rangoli competition at the entrance of the university from 7 am to 9.30 am, which conveyed the need to save the university by appointing a permanent VC. “The acting vicechancellor, Prof Mohd Miyan from the Maulana Abdul Kalam University has visited our campus only thrice in the past oneandhalf year and it is not right to have an outsider as vicechancellor,” said Radha, a student of MA (English). “We lack a leader who can show us the way. There are no proper allocation of funds in absence of a vicechancellor,” observed Chola Pandian, pursuing MA in French.
“The University of Hyderabad gets a new vicechancellor within a month’s time and the JNU got a new VC within a week, but we have not got a regular vicechancellor for the past one year. This is gross injustice,” said Sheel, a student. The Teachers’ Association of EFLU had written a letter to the Union ministry of Human Resource and Development with suggestions of academicians for filling their post of vice chancellor. The Ministry responded with a decision of scrapping the search committee and appointing a new committee. “It was an unprecedented event that a search committee was dissolved by the ministry after 15 months without intimating the university,” observed Surendra Singh Negi, secretary, Teachers’ Association.
The HRD ministry then constituted a new committee which rejected the recommended names, saying they are not suitable for the post of vice chancellor, added Negi. Wearing black badges and holding placards and posters, students took out a rally around the campus shouting slogans against the inefficiency of the Central government in appointing a vicechancellor. A canvas painting with messages for the HRD ministry was spread across railings on the campus. The students and faculty also participated in poetry recitation, art exhibition and singing in front of the cafeteria from 10 a.m to 12.30 p.m.
In the afternoon, students and faculty decided to eat on the roads outside the messes. “There are no proper facilities in the hostels. Without a VC to bring about changes, it does not seem like a university to us,” said another student Anusha. The students then organised a street play, showcasing the present scenario of politics. The play titled Gadda (pothole) started with singing on corrupt ways of government, followed by a skit where an innocent person falls into a pothole. It showed how despite his repeated pleas for help, other artistes playing politicians and government officials pay no heed to his cries and how he starves to death. The protest ended with a human chain rally at the entrance. “We will continue our protests till Wednesday after which we’ll file a case on the HRD ministry,” said Tarakeswar, faculty of Translations.
—Agencies