Students of Delhi University’s College of Arts have taken to painting, but for a cause. Painting the walls of the college and making posters to mark their dissent, a section of students have been boycotting classes and staging a dharna outside the college for the past 16 days in protest against the college authorities.
Alleging apathy from the Department of Art and Culture, the college authorities and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the students claim the syllabus and library have not been upgraded.
“Our curriculum is old and there has been no revision for quite some time. Majority of teachers’ posts are lying vacant. There has been no dialogue from either Delhi University or the Department of Art and Culture,” said a final-year painting student.
When faced with the students’ demands, Principal S.N. Lahiri told them that he was only the officiating one, although the institute’s website lists him as principal.
“The person we thought was our principal turned out to be an officiating one. When we first went to him with our demands, he told us he was helpless as he was not the principal. He said no principal has been appointed since the past three years. He is on leave since Monday due to his wife’s health,” said a third-year student.
Alleging lack of computers and books on contemporary art practices in the library, the students have also demanded transparency of funds. “We heard the college received almost Rs.5 crore. Where and how was it utilised? The washrooms are in a dismal condition, no stationery is provided to us and the only stationery shop in campus has been shut since eight months. The annual seminar-cum-workshop hosted by the college has been discontinued. No eminent artists come to teach as visiting faculty,” he added.
The students had their first round of discussions with the college administration on Wednesday. On why dialogue started so late, painting department Prof. K. Ramesh said there were reports of some “outsiders” being involved in the protests. “We have just started the conversations with students. We will sit for another round with them on Thursday morning. So far, the students seem to be satisfied with the negotiation, although talks are at the initial stages. I can give a better picture once the talks conclude,” he said.
Published - September 17, 2015 12:00 am IST
