Vice-Chancellor of Tribhuvan University Prof Dr Madhav Prasad Sharma gave his views on events leading to near three week closure of the country’s oldest university due to the protests of Kirtipur locals under the banner of the TU Victims´ Struggle Committee (TUVSC). It finally re-opened last Wednesday.
What were some of the things that happened in the university during the 20 days of closure?
In front of the TU central building there was some damage and windows were damaged and shattered from thrown stones. Our discussion rooms, they were ruined as well. There was also a fire from burning tyres outside. And those people who did this are not members of our university. Of course they would say they are from Tribhuvan University Victims Struggle Committee (TUVSC). In addition, our staff was locked in their offices.
How did the university address some of the demands made by the locals and the TUVSC?
There were some demands and we discussed it within a committee while consolidating all the relevant information. With regards to their demands, some may be fulfilled by the state, while some may be fulfilled by us. These demands can be categorized better in this way. Not all demands can be fulfilled by the university side and it’ll be better if they approached the state instead. Some of the demands we can partially fulfill. For example, facilities such as the playgrounds and the stadium can be built for the university and shared with the locals. Even existing facilities in the university can be used by the locals.
What about the issue of jobs?
There were demands of creating over 450 jobs in the university. How can we fulfill this? Jobs are according to demand and our university is run with the help of the government. If new jobs are created, the government must know about this and they should provide the funding for these jobs. If those jobs are not necessary for the university, how can we justify to the state to provide funding for the jobs?
What were some of the details discussion between the parties involved?
In the first session discussion with the TUVSC, we told them the fact remains that we are not in a position to fulfill all their demands. They gave us some demands and we told them that we’ll study the demands and maybe in some way we can help. We formed a committee and collected all the relevant information about this issue and made a report. With this information, we were positive in solving some of the problems however they did not want to listen to us and proceeded to protest and conduct the violent acts damaging university property. After this, we decided not to discuss or meet with these people. These people also said they do not wish to continue with discussions and wanted to meet the Prime Minister. We are not having any connections with these people.
These people you mentioned, are they the locals or TUVSC?
The TUVSC say they are locals, but there are many other locals elsewhere who know that the university cannot fulfill their demands. Other locals like students, intellectuals and civilians may have helped to neutralize the situation – as they understood the university’s position. This land was taken from the government and they have given it to the university. The university administration has no connection with the ownership of the land. Because the government has taken the land, they should be responsible for the compensation to the people. If the government has not given compensation for the land to the people, they should give it – not the university. If the locals have any proof that this is their land, they should go to the government or even the courts, and claim what is rightfully theirs.
Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Deependra Bikram Thapa said that since TU is an autonomous body the government cannot interfere in its internal matters. Do you agree with this statement?
Yes. It is an autonomous body and they should not interfere.
What are the sentiments felt by the staff and faculty in the university over the past 20 days?
This university, as an academic institution, should not be harassed as it was. And it should have security in the sense that they can work according to the rules and regulations of the country and the university. Otherwise, when you are faced with external pressure, these rules and regulations can be compromised. This should not be so. Therefore our university should be above all the things that have happened in the past 20 days. It should be taken as a peaceful place. All concerned parties, individuals and civilians who feel the university is a precious institution, should not abuse the university. The university should not be treated this way.
If something bad happens, all should rally and work together to make the university function as an academic institution. This country is in a transitional phase and as you have seen, when external parties put pressure on certain demands, many things can be obtained. Again, this is not how the university should be treated. It must have internationally accepted rules and regulations; otherwise the future of Nepal will not be positive.
Will there be a closure of the university is such an incident were to happen in the future?
No. There will not be any closedown now for this central office. Of course they are many constituent campuses scattered all over Nepal, and maybe something happens, they may have to close for a few days. But we have to address to the people and to the relevant parties to put a stop to all activities that can hamper the image of the university.
