By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 5 Jun: Uncertainty has gripped the future of the century-old Kanya Gurukul campus on Rajpur Road in Dehradun following reports that several academic departments may be shifted to Haridwar, triggering strong opposition from teachers and concern among students studying at the institution.
Established in 1927 in Dehradun to promote women’s education, the Kanya Gurukul campus in Arya Nagar, Dehradun, has for nearly a century provided educational opportunities to girls from economically weaker sections of Uttarakhand, particularly from remote hill districts, as well as students from states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan and several northeastern states. The institution currently offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in humanities, oriental studies and computer science-related disciplines.
The controversy erupted after teachers were reportedly informed that departments such as Hindi, English, Sanskrit and History are being considered for relocation to the women’s campus in Haridwar. Teachers fear that such a move could eventually lead to the closure of several other departments, including Economics, Fine Arts, Physical Education and Psychology, which do not currently have postgraduate programmes.
Faculty members have expressed anguish and strong resentment over the proposal, arguing that shifting courses away from Dehradun would undermine the very purpose for which the institution was established and adversely affect hundreds of students who chose the campus because of its location and affordable education. The issue was discussed at a meeting of the teachers’ association, which reportedly resolved to oppose any move that could weaken or shut down the Dehradun campus. Plans are also understood to be underway for the formation of a joint teachers and non-teaching staff committee to resist the proposal.
Students have also voiced apprehension, claiming that any relocation during the course of their studies would disrupt their education and place an additional financial burden on many families. Some have warned that they are prepared to pursue all available legal and democratic avenues to prevent the shifting of the campus.
Amid the controversy, speculation has been rife that valuable land occupied by the Kanya Gurukul campus on Dehradun’s prime Rajpur Road could be attracting the attention of land sharks. The campus occupies several acres in one of the city’s most sought-after localities, fuelling concerns among sections of teachers and students about its future.
Speaking to Garhwal Post, Kanya Gurukul Coordinator Prof Heman Pathak described such claims as speculation at present but he did not rule out the possibility of shifting some courses to Haridwar in the future. He said that any such decision would depend on admission numbers at the Dehradun campus and other academic considerations. However, he stressed that no final decision regarding the complete relocation of the institution had been officially announced.
The development has sparked a wider debate over the future of one of Uttarakhand’s oldest institutions dedicated to women’s education, with teachers and students insisting that the historic campus should continue to function from its present location in Dehradun.
