By Yogesh Maitreya, TwoCircles.net
It would be normal to assume that providing adequate facilities to students would be a priority for the administration of any University. But if we look at the Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU), it seems pleasing local leaders is a more important priority even if this might prove to be detrimental to the students’ future.
The University administration’s step to install a statue of Shivaji at the cost of Rs 45 lakh, an amount taken from students fund, has angered the students and responding against the same, members of Panther Sena, Aurangabad, organized a protest in the BAMU campus.
While talking to TwoCircles.net, Deepak Kedar, the Maharashtra president of Panther Sena, said, “They are attempting to install a statue of Shivaji Maharaj in the premise of BAMU. We are not against Shivaji Maharaj but you see, there are 6,000 students from the University staying outside the campus in dire conditions due to a scarcity of hostels in the university premise. The chancellor of the university, BA Chopade, arbitrarily sanctioned Rs 45 lakh from the students’ fund for the installation of the statue. University is the place of education and creation of knowledge, not a place of installing statues.”
Panther Sena alleged that this step is an attempt to appease the propagandist demands of local upper-caste leaders from NCP (National Congress Party) and BJP.
While lamenting on the past, Deepak says, “just to give the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar to Marathwada University, a battle was fought for 17 years. Dalits were murdered, raped, and humiliated during this period of Namantar Movement. On one hand, the university administration is neglecting the basic needs of the students such as hostels, and on the other, it sanctions Rs 45 lakh to install the statue of Shivaji Maharaj in the university premise.”
A request letter by Panther Sena has been submitted to the Chancellor, requesting not to install any statue in the premise of BAMU using Students’ Fund, also mentions that the encroachment of religious-places, idols, and statues in the university premise should be stopped; the situation which also suggests the negligence by university administration towards the activities which are inappropriate for educational spaces.
Despite several attempts, TwoCircles.net could not reach the Chancellor of the University.