It was shocking to see students climbing on sofas and chairs and writing graffiti on the walls of the newly renovated office of the vice-chancellor.

They etched their slogans and comments on new woodwork in the conference room and secretary's office. They danced on top of a heritage table that is almost 80 years old. They broke plants from the pots and strewed the broken plants all over the conference room, using the plastic plates below the pots to bang on the floor till they broke. They smoked incessantly inside my office.

They abused my secretary in such language that she could neither work nor sit at her table. They screamed at me abuses that are unprintable while banging on my table and much more. This violation of what I hold sacred in my heart - the vice-chancellor's office - was the violation of every Presidencian's dignity.

'Stay strong'

I felt extremely low on Saturday mid-day and asked myself if this debasement, this humiliation, this insult was worth all the effort that I have put in for Presidency University. My health took a toll and I was advised hospitalisation.

My husband, daughter, close friends, none of them slept the night that I was gheraoed. They stayed awake, in constant touch with me, praying for it all to end.

I had more than 20 teachers and staff who stayed with me all night in my office, refusing to go home even though some of them had small children and ailing parents at home. It was my loved ones and many of my faculty who refused to let me give up. They constantly told me to stay strong and do the right thing. It was their will and prayers that gave me the strength to overcome an emotionally low point.

In hindsight, we sometimes have to sacrifice everything for the work that we are meant to do. In the end, it was my commitment to the university's long-term improvement and the belief that I had a job to do, which I would, despite problems, that sustained me.

I also had faith that society in general would rally in support with those who are seen to be doing the right thing.

The outstanding and unanimous support that I got from my faculty and officers brought my belief back. They stood behind me rock solid and refused to compromise with the mob holding us all to ransom.

I have always found my colleagues extremely supportive and courageous. I value them immensely. More important, a huge number of students wrote to me, requesting me not to resign. I then knew that for my students, the convocation must happen as scheduled.

Not ideological

A state-funded university like Presidency is largely dependent on funds from the state government and, to a small extent, on funds from UGC, extramural research funding agencies and a very, very small amount of money from private donors.

It appears that people are assuming that if we depend on state government funds, we are necessarily aligned with a certain political ideology. They couldn't be further from the truth. Irrespective of which political party forms the government, a public official heading a public institution will necessarily work with the state government. This is an administrative matter, not ideological.

How will the university's New Town campus (estimated to cost Rs 350 crore) be built without government support? How will we celebrate our 200th year without funding support from the government?

Private donors will never give this kind of money. We are an autonomous body, with full control over our own academic and administrative matters. However, we are accountable and responsible to the state/public for the funds we receive from the state exchequer. After all, this is public money.

Varsity's interests

Neither the chief minister nor the state government has ever tried to influence me on the academic or administrative matters of Presidency. I have been the VC of Presidency University since May 2, 2014, and the first time that I ever met the chief minister was on June 22, 2015, when I called on her to invite her for our convocation. I also requested her for support for the upcoming 200th year celebrations and to build the second campus.

She regretted that she could not attend the convocation but promised to come to Presidency on another date. During this meeting, I mentioned that I was about to start a collaboration with several UK universities. She was really happy and requested me to visit London with her delegation and invite collaborating universities to this event where the MoUs could be signed.

It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase Presidency University at such a large forum and that is what I did. I was proud of the publicity that Presidency University got in London.

Why should these photos not be on our website? My students and faculty should also share in this joy.

For the MoUs signed by me, Presidency University would again have to look to the state for funding support. I see nothing wrong in reaching out to the state if it is in the interests of the university.

Also, I am conscious of the fact that I should do nothing that detracts from the enhanced autonomy that the university must necessarily continue to enjoy.

Unacceptable

We will have to talk to the students and explain as best as we can that their actions of the past few days are highly damaging for the university's profile.

My message to these students is that they can always disagree with the authorities, but they may not behave in an uncivilised manner with anyone. At a time Presidency University is being hailed as a model state-aided university in the country, such unruly conduct by some misguided students is unacceptable.

If we want the best corporate houses and research institutions to come to our campus looking for the country's brightest minds, we need to work assiduously to build such an image. No employer wants to recruit from a campus known for disorder and instability. It takes thousands of outstanding scholars and decades of work to build the reputation of an institution of academic excellence, but it can be destroyed in an instant by the actions of an irresponsible few.

I have faith that the agitating students will realise that they did not do the right thing and they will go back to the classrooms, where they belong.

 

The writer is the vice-chancellor of Presidency University. She returned home on Saturday night after spending nearly 34 hours on the campus and wrote this article on Sunday afternoon in response to a series of questions from The Telegraph