Tripathi takes charge as BHU V-C

Tripathi then reached BHU, where he garlanded the statue of Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya at the main gate. He then proceeded to the Vishwanath temple, located within the BHU, where he performed pooja amid chanting of hymns by senior faculty member of Sanskrit Education and Religious Sciences Department, Dr Upendra Tripathi, and others.

Later, interacting with mediapersons, Tripathi said he would work towards upliftment of the BHU while keeping in mind the interests of the students. “Inter-disciplinary research would be encouraged and issues of students would be addressed in consultation with them,” a BU spokesperson said, quoting Tripathi.

Tripathi also said internal discussions will be held to decide whether a students’ council or a students’ union was feasible for the University. To a query on action against students in the past week, Tripathi said he would first hear out the concerns of the students.

Tripathi takes charge of BHU against the backdrop of unrest and violence on the campus that started with a protest on the issue of restoration of the students’ union. The election to the students’ union was last held in 1997, when death of two students following violence had forced the BHU to ban such polls. A couple of years ago, a students’ council was elected. However, the practice could not be continued, amid demands for restoration of the union.

Sangal had promised elections to the students’ council, but the move backfired and, post violence, five hostels had to be evacuated. The University has suspended 17 students and the former Acting VC, besides issuing show cause notice to the Chief Proctor, who resigned after the violence started.