Bhagalpur, Sept. 5: A senior teacher of the department of Gandhian thought at Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University (TMBU) staged a daylong fast to protest against the alleged vindictive attitude of the university administration while students and teachers celebrated Teachers’ Day all over the country.

The teacher, Vijay Kumar, also a social worker and an expert on Ganga and Kosi, has not received his salary since December 2010. He said he wanted to protest against the apathy of the university administration through satyagraha and chose the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the department as the site of his demonstration.

“I am compelled to take this step as the university has turned a deaf ear to my problem,” said Vijay.

He added that it had become very difficult for him to continue the treatment of his daughter Shambhavi, a blood cancer patient. Shambhavi has been receiving treatment at Christian Medical College in Vellore in Tamil Nadu since 2008. “It has become very difficult for me to continue with her treatment. Moreover, I am a patient of tuberculosis. I cannot afford medicines, as I have not been paid my salary for the past eight months.”

Vijay had been suspended on December 20, 2010, after disciplinary action was initiated against him for allegedly violating university norms. At the time of his suspension, he was the acting head of the department. He said: “I was given no showcause notice at the time of suspension. So, I don’t know what my fault was.”

The teacher rejoined the university on January 19 this year after the university revoked his suspension. “I was not reinstated as the head of the department, nor was I given any reason for the university blocking my salary for the past eight months,” he said.

K.N. Dubey, the vice-chancellor (VC) of the university, was not available for comment. No official of the university could explain the reason for the treatment meted out to the teacher.

A source in the office of the VC said: “After the suspension was revoked, the formalities to regularise the salary were delayed. We hope that he will soon get his dues.”

Sources in the university said Vijay, along with members of Gandhi Vichar Manch, a local non-government organisation, and other social organisations had staged a three-day-long fast-unto-death at the department between December 21 and December 23 last year against his suspension and also the “step-motherly attitude” of the university administration towards the department. They also protested against the appointment of teachers of other subjects to the department, silence over the large-scale irregularities in the BEd admission at SM College, not fulfilling the long-awaited demands of the department.

Many officials of the university and the district administration came to the department along with a number of social workers and discussed the issue on December 23. The varsity officials assured the protesters that they would fulfil all the demands by January 3. The hunger strike was then withdrawn.

Vijay said: “Though eight months have passed, the varsity is yet to fulfil its promises.”

Sources said the varsity administration was not happy with Vijay participation in the protest.

He added: “I staged only a token fast today. If the varsity does not release my dues soon, I will take to more serious agitation.”