By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 5 Sep: Continuous transfer of women teachers from the Kanya Gurukul Campus in Dehradun (of Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar) to their Haridwar campus has led to much resentment among the teachers and the students. The teachers and the students today observed a symbolic protest by wearing black bands on Teacher’s Day on Saturday.
The concerns and apprehensions expressed by students of the Kanya Gurukul Campus, Dehradun, regarding the proposed shifting of the campus now appear to be turning into reality. During the past fortnight, the university administration has transferred three permanent faculty members, one after another, to the Kanya Campus in Haridwar. Assistant Professor Dr Suniti Arya of the Department of Sanskrit and Assistant Professor Dr Reena Verma of the Department of English were first transferred from the Dehradun campus to Haridwar, leaving the departments dependent on temporary faculty.
Subsequently, on the occasion of Janmashtami, Professor Dr Renu Shukla of the Department of History and Archaeology was also handed a transfer order directing her to join the Kanya Campus in Haridwar on Monday.
Following these developments, the teachers and the students staged a protest today to express their resentment. The teachers and students of Kanya Gurukul Dehradun wore black bands on Teacher’s Day in protest against the transfer-related developments taking place at the campus. They said the university administration was suddenly transferring regular women faculty members to Haridwar in the middle of the academic session without any prior information and replacing them with ad-hoc faculty.
The students have expressed apprehension that if all teaching in the departments is undertaken by ad-hoc faculty in place of regular faculty, undergraduate and postgraduate studies, as well as research work, will be adversely affected. They said this would make it difficult for them to receive quality education. The students’ concern assumes significance as, according to UGC norms, Kanya Gurukul Campus, Dehradun, is the second and only women’s campus of Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya.
The protesting students said that if the university administration continues to take such decisions, the move would undermine the spirit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign aimed at promoting girls’ education. They also expressed concern that the initiative undertaken by the Arya Samaj for women’s education could be weakened if the historic women’s campus in Dehradun was gradually reduced in importance.
The students have also alleged that the university administration has decided to shift the Dehradun campus to the Kanya Gurukul Campus in Haridwar, creating confusion and resentment among students currently studying here. It is being reported that newly admitted students are being asked by the university administration to take admission at the Haridwar campus. The students maintain that the Kanya Gurukul Campus in Dehradun has historical significance and was established with the objective of providing education to girls. In view of this legacy, they are opposing any move to close or shift the Dehradun campus.
According to the students, there is also a proposal to arrange part-time teachers in place of permanent faculty for conducting postgraduate classes. At the same time, the process of transferring permanent women teachers working at the Dehradun campus has also reportedly been initiated. The developments have increased concerns among students regarding their academic future.
The students further allege that the decision concerning the campus has already been passed at a meeting of the university’s Board of Management. Students and others associated with the campus have said that if the Dehradun campus is closed, it would not only affect the studies of existing students but also cause serious damage to the historic educational tradition of the Kanya Gurukul.
The students have also alleged that the university administration is gradually moving towards winding up the Dehradun campus and giving it a private character. However, the official position of the university administration on the matter, including the exact decision taken regarding the campus and its future plan, remains to be clarified.
Meanwhile some students have also reminded the University administration of the editorial article written by President Droupadi Murmu, today titled “Let’s hold our teachers in the highest esteem. They help India learn and lead.” The students say that invocation of the age‑old maxim ‘Acharyadevo Bhava’ made the sight at Kanya Gurukul Campus, Dehradun all the more poignant, where teachers were compelled to stage a quiet protest on Teachers’ Day. Their remonstrance came in response to the proposed transfer of courses from Dehradun to Haridwar, a move that has triggered widespread discontent among students and faculty alike.
