You can’t grill gu VC
Vice Chancellor Parimal Trivedi has chosen to fortify his office after last week’s ‘attack’ by students. He has installed security grills on ground floor and first floor of GU building
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, July 09, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=20100709201007090317085794f26eaf)
Gujarat University Vice Chancellor Parimal Trivedi has found a new obsession: Security grills. In order to avoid getting ‘grilled’ by student leaders, perhaps, Trivedi is now busy fitting grills at the university building. In less than a week after being ‘attacked’ by ABVP student leaders, the VC has fitted a new security grill at the entrance of the corridor leading to his chamber. This, when there is a grill in place already.Even at the entrance of the university building on the ground floor, a sliding security grill has been installed to prevent protestors from reaching the yellow-coloured grill inside.
The yellow grill too has been covered with a layer of steel wire mesh, so that angry protestors are unable to shake it or throw paper balls or stones inside. More number of grills will be constructed at other gates leading to the main building.
The VC doesn’t seem to be realising that in an apparent bid to keep protestors out, it is the landmark building that is losing its charm. Also, the university, which has completed 60 years, seems to be literally shutting itself to students instead of encouraging openness and transparency.
Last week, a group of students had barged into Trivedi’s residence and ‘assaulted’ him over the issue of introduction of high payment seats in postgraduate courses. ABVP leaders claimed that students tried meeting Trivedi several times to convey their objections, but each time he ignored them. When they were finally allowed to meet him, the VC allegedly abused them. As a mark of protest, the students knelt before him and he tried to trample them. Later the cops arrived and lathicharged everybody. The VC then filed a police complaint against the students.
University syndicate member Manish Doshi said: “GU officials are already inaccessible to students unless they know someone personally. Instead of putting up grills, GU should focus on how to communicate better with students and teachers. It is people dynamics the VC should focus on. There is nothing that cannot be solved if you listen to people’s problems and make them understand your point of view. Installing grills only reflects VC’s insecurity.”
A yellow-coloured sliding grill was installed at the entrance of the corridor leading to VC Parimal Trivedi’s chamber
Doshi said that several former VCs used to interact freely with the students, some would even spend time with them at their hostels. “Never has any VC resorted to something like this. For God’s sake, GU is an educational institution. Why should you make it look like a fortress?”
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, July 09, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=20100709201007090317085794f26eaf)
Gujarat University Vice Chancellor Parimal Trivedi has found a new obsession: Security grills. In order to avoid getting ‘grilled’ by student leaders, perhaps, Trivedi is now busy fitting grills at the university building. In less than a week after being ‘attacked’ by ABVP student leaders, the VC has fitted a new security grill at the entrance of the corridor leading to his chamber. This, when there is a grill in place already.The yellow grill too has been covered with a layer of steel wire mesh, so that angry protestors are unable to shake it or throw paper balls or stones inside. More number of grills will be constructed at other gates leading to the main building.
The VC doesn’t seem to be realising that in an apparent bid to keep protestors out, it is the landmark building that is losing its charm. Also, the university, which has completed 60 years, seems to be literally shutting itself to students instead of encouraging openness and transparency.
Last week, a group of students had barged into Trivedi’s residence and ‘assaulted’ him over the issue of introduction of high payment seats in postgraduate courses. ABVP leaders claimed that students tried meeting Trivedi several times to convey their objections, but each time he ignored them. When they were finally allowed to meet him, the VC allegedly abused them. As a mark of protest, the students knelt before him and he tried to trample them. Later the cops arrived and lathicharged everybody. The VC then filed a police complaint against the students.
University syndicate member Manish Doshi said: “GU officials are already inaccessible to students unless they know someone personally. Instead of putting up grills, GU should focus on how to communicate better with students and teachers. It is people dynamics the VC should focus on. There is nothing that cannot be solved if you listen to people’s problems and make them understand your point of view. Installing grills only reflects VC’s insecurity.”
A yellow-coloured sliding grill was installed at the entrance of the corridor leading to VC Parimal Trivedi’s chamber
Doshi said that several former VCs used to interact freely with the students, some would even spend time with them at their hostels. “Never has any VC resorted to something like this. For God’s sake, GU is an educational institution. Why should you make it look like a fortress?”Trivedi has been slammed several times for moving around with excessive security. “He has 24-hour police protection and also has hired private security guards. Now, by installing security grills he is only inviting media attention. It really doesn’t solve any purpose. The VC is simply wasting his time and money,” said a student on condition of anonymity.
But Trivedi brushes his critics aside saying: “Agitating students often throw stones inside the building. We don’t want them to indulge in such violent protests. The grills have been installed considering the safety and security of GU staff.”
