Academic and administrative functions at Assam's Tezpur University have ground to a complete halt as protesting students have locked the main entrance and key buildings. The indefinite protest, now in its fifth day, centers on the demand for the immediate removal of Vice-Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh, casting a shadow over the future of thousands of students with semester-end exams scheduled to begin on December 8.
Roots of the Unrest: A Cascade of Grievances
The student agitation, simmering for weeks, has escalated into a full-blown campus shutdown. The protesters accuse VC Shambhu Nath Singh of multiple financial and academic irregularities. These allegations include questionable appointments, concerns over the quality of infrastructure development, and procurement of materials at inflated prices.
A significant trigger for the current intensity was the university's decision to hold student council elections a day after the death of beloved Assamese cultural icon Zubeen Garg, which students viewed as a profound disrespect during a state of mourning. This act galvanized widespread anger. Furthermore, students claim the VC has been conspicuously absent from the campus, creating a "lockdown-like" situation.
The movement has now evolved beyond the student body. The TU United Forum, a collective comprising students, teachers, and non-teaching staff, has united in its call for Singh's resignation. They are also demanding a probe by a sitting or retired Supreme Court judge into the university's affairs and the formation of an independent student union.
A University Paralyzed and Search for a Solution
The impact of the protest is severe. Only emergency services are being permitted on campus, with all other academic and administrative activities suspended. The university's in-charge registrar, Chandan Goswami, acknowledged the crisis on Tuesday evening, stating that efforts are underway to find a resolution.
With the stalemate deepening, the TU administration has sought the intervention of Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya. The situation has also drawn attention at the highest levels, having been raised in both Parliament and the Assam state assembly by opposition members.
Despite multiple high-level interventions, a breakthrough remains elusive. A fact-finding team led by IIT Guwahati director Prof Devendra Jalihal, appointed by the Governor, has already visited the campus. A magisterial probe was ordered by the Sonitpur district administration into the Zubeen Garg incident. Additionally, a team from the Union Education Ministry, including two joint secretary-rank officers, assessed the reported lapses.
An Uncertain Future as Deadlock Continues
As the standoff persists, the immediate future of students hangs in the balance. The rescheduled semester-end examinations are fast approaching, and the continued closure threatens to disrupt the academic calendar significantly. Repeated attempts by media to contact Vice-Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh for his version have been unsuccessful, with calls and messages going unanswered.
In October, after a previous deadlock, Singh had proposed a "sincere and respectful dialogue" with stakeholders. However, students now appear firm on their primary demand: his resignation and the immediate appointment of an acting VC. With the campus under student lock and key and no dialogue in sight, the community awaits a decisive intervention to break the impasse and allow the university to resume its core mission of education.
