The research scholars of Calicut University resorted to unique methods of protest as their “24x7 reading agitation” completed a week on Sunday. Protesting against the withdrawal of fellowships and introduction of punching system, they polished the shoes and sandals of the staff and students and washed the cars parked on the campus.
They cleaned the premises of the central library on Sunday, which they occupied as part of their round-the-clock reading agitation a week ago. The 30-odd staff members of the central library have done no work since the protesters under the banner of the All Kerala Research Scholars Association (AKRSA) occupied the library.
Library readingThe research scholars have been taking turns for reading in the library. At a time, 50 research scholars would be reading inside the library when others would hold classes and other unique means of protest outside.
The agitation has thrown the functioning of the university library into disarray. It has stopped issuing books and periodicals. The functioning of the library is unlikely to come back to normal soon even if the research scholars end their agitation.
Officials said the library could not issue books until the stock was verified.
The research scholars, on Sunday, sent a mass memorandum to the Chancellor seeking his intervention in the issue. As many as 300 protesters signed the memorandum, copies of which were sent to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Education Minister P.K. Abdu Rabb, Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan, Chief Whip P.C. George, CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, Congress State president V.M. Sudheeran, BJP State president V. Muraleedharan, and IUML State president Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal.
