If you have any grouse to voice or a compliment to offer to Delhi University, then mark your presence outside Gandhi Bhavan on the North Campus at 3 p.m. on Thursday — for the Vice-Chancellor and his entourage will be there for two hours to hear you out.
“This is not a one-off public discussion, but will be happening every Thursday whenever I am in the city,” said Vice-Chancellor Dinesh Singh, adding that everybody was welcome and no prior appointment was needed.
By everyone, he meant everyone in the university comprising teachers, students and even karamcharis . He did not say that the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA), sitting on an indefinite hunger strike in front of his office, for almost two months was unwelcome.
One of DUTA’s main grouse has been that the V-C has refused them an audience and this may just tip the balance in the stand-off that has been going on since October 10.
“Having a cup of tea with us will not make everything alright, we will soften our stand only if he is genuinely interested in sensitively addressing our concerns,” said DUTA member Saikat Ghosh.
Meanwhile, Prof. Singh said there was a specific reason why he had chosen Gandhi Bhavan for such a step. “This beautiful building was inaugurated as a symbol of peace by Jawaharlal Nehru,” he added.
