“Students can do anything at any time; we are unsafe from them,” complained a staff member at the Registrar’s Office, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur. “The student leaders have padlocked various offices across the university.”
While the staffer was voicing their concerns, a group of students representing the Nepal Student Union, the student wing of the Nepali Congress, entered the office of Tribhuvan University’s Vice Chancellor, Keshar Jung Baral. They proceeded to paste leaflets containing offensive remarks about Rector Khadga KC and Registrar Kedar Prasad Rijal on the door.
Repeated disturbances
The complaints of recently appointed campus chiefs, who had come to the Registrar’s Office for paperwork, were also there. “Although I have been appointed as the campus chief, students do not let us do our work,” says one of the campus chiefs.
There are more student unions outside the valley than in the valley. “Police were deployed for the security of the VC,” says that campus chief. “ University has become very unsafe.” University should be peaceful but due to the insecurity, the government has deployed security personnel to ensure the safety of the Vice Chancellor.
These are the incidents that occurred recently. The case of Prem Chalaune, a Lecturer at Tribhuvan University, who the students assaulted is still fresh. He is still seeking justice. According to the varsity staff, padlocking, strikes, protests, and banning officials from entering the university have become normal.
Smearing soot on campus chiefs has become a common practice among students,” says a staffer from the Registrar’s Office. “The padlocking of offices has been ongoing for a month. If we attempt to break the locks and enter, students can assault us”
Recently, three campus chiefs have faced restrictions from entering their respective campuses. Dyanendra Rai, the Campus Chief of Tribhuvan University Central Campus in Kirtipur, and Kabita Luitel, the Campus Chief of Bhaktapur Multiple Campus, have been prohibited from accessing their campuses due to ongoing protests.
Similarly, the temporary teachers of Tri-Chandra Campus have padlocked the premises, preventing Nilam Shrestha Pradhan from entering her office. Rather than working together to enhance the quality of education, students and teachers are having disputes about appointments and power sharing.
In the last month during the time of appointing deans of eight faculties, the student wing of CPN UML staged a protest in front of VC’s office. Similarly, student wings of the CPN Maoist Centre and other opposition parties staged the protest in front of the Rector’s office, during the time to appoint campus chiefs.
The Executive Council of Tribhuvan University appointed the campus chiefs. Afterwards, the student wings of NC protested in the VC’s office because no one close to the NC was appointed as the campus chief.
Threats from students
“We receive countless threats from students. The student wings of the ruling party issue more threats” says an official from Tribhuvan University, speaking anonymously to avoid risks from students. “We face an increasing number of threats on social media, particularly on Facebook.”
The student wings of NC, CPN UML and CPN Maoist Centre have dominance in Tribhuvan University. “Due to their political backing, they have been able to establish significant influence in the university,” says Kedar Bhakta Mathema, Former Vice-Chancellor of Tribhuvan University. “Due to the political backup of students, the officials are helpless.”
Students should focus on academics—attending classes, utilizing the library, preparing for exams, and engaging with the curriculum—rather than seeking power-sharing roles, he adds. According to Mathema, student unions should merely fight for the rights of the students.
He says that the leadership should independently appoint the deserving person. Students should not interfere in such matters. “It is unfortunate to see that security has been deployed for the safety of the VC. Whatever is happening at the Tribhuvan University is not right”
Blame game
Major political parties NC, CPN UML and CPN Maoist Centre, admit that the student union has created terror in the variety. However, they are into the blame game, stating that their student wing is innocent. The ruling party CPN UML has decided to not padlock and strike in the university.
Students should mount creative pressure to implement an education calendar. They should contribute to the development of education quality.” says Parbati Rawal, head of the Education Department of CPN UML. “If we find any student, representing CPN UML, causing violence in the university, we make them aware.”
Maya Prasad Sharma, Head of the Education Department of the CPN Maoist Centre, claims that the student leaders of the CPN Maoist Centre have done nothing wrong. “The student leaders of the ruling party are causing violence. They are holding strikes and protests,” says Sharma.
She is aware that the officials are not safe at Tribhuvan University. “There is a situation where the VC cannot go to the office. Security has been deployed for his safety. The Senate is being run from Singha Durbar. All these things highlight how unsafe the university has become,” says Sharma.
Nain Singh Mahar, Head of Education Department of NC admits that a favourable environment is created for students to run various activities during the appointment to recruit people close to them.
“Students should only have academic demands. To implement academic things, the leadership should also be academic,” says Mahar. Sharma believes that there is no need to protest at the university.
