Soon, students will have to endure loud marriage celebrations on Bangalore University’s Jnanabharathi campus.
In addition to the numerous places of worship that have sprung up on the campus, a ‘samudaya bhavan’ (community hall) is now being built. This move is likely to kick up a storm as earlier, a “temple” dedicated to a monkey that died on campus had been opposed.
Set to be built at Rs. 2 crore, the community hall will host weddings, naming ceremonies and “office functions”, a BU staff said. The hall is being built by the BU House Building Cooperative Society, which consists of members of the non-teaching and teaching staff and is expected to be completed within 18 months.
“The university has given us land; we will approach it for some funding. This is coming up near the staff quarters and will not affect classes in any way,” said a member of the society.
However, academicians are seeing red over this development. “First religious structures and now a community hall. Are these the kind of facilities needed on a university campus?” asked a professor, on condition of anonymity.
BU Registrar (Administration) K.K. Seethamma said the proposal to build the hall was passed by the university’s syndicate — the highest decision making body. “We have to look after the welfare of the non-teaching staff too. They cannot afford expensive halls in the city,” she said, defending the proposal.
