People throng Shahdeo?s residence to pay tribute. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, July 13: Lal Chand Churamani Shahdeo, former vice-chancellor of Ranchi University, died last evening.

Shahdeo, popularly known as Lal Saheb or Raja Saheb, is survived by his wife and five sons. He was 67.

He was admitted in a city nursing home on Ratu Road on July 11 for a surgical removal of piles. He was operated upon yesterday. While recovering from the effects of local anaesthesia, he complained of pain. Around 4.30 pm a painkiller was administered but his pulse rate increased. Although senior cardiologist D.P. Arya was sent for his condition did not improve and he died around 6 pm. He was also a heart patient with dilated cardio myopathy. His was a left ventricle failure with low ejection factor.

Hundreds of his admirers thronged his residence Palkot House and the Baba Ram?s ashram, where his mortal remains were kept for 45 minutes before departure for Baba Ram?s ashram in Benares, where his last rites were to be performed later today.

Shadeo was the vice-chancellor of Ranchi University from March 1999 to March 2002. He was also the president of Sadan Vikas Parishad and was actively associated with the Jan Sangh and later the BJP. He was also associated with many social organisations.

Shocked by his sudden demise, Anil Kumar, general secretary of the Ranchi University Service Teachers Association (Rusta) said: ?He was a vice-chancellor who took geography classes also.? Shahdeo was the president of the Rusta for more than 12 years.

Kumar said: ?He always stood by the decisions taken by his juniors. In fact, even if he was opposed to any course of action, and if there was any trouble, he used to take it upon himself, instead of remaining aloof.?

These qualities led to a confrontation with a top intelligence official in undivided Bihar and despite sensing that his tenure as vice-chancellor could be in jeopardy, he stood his ground and refused to terminate services of teachers working in newly converted constituent colleges.

The CID sleuths prepared the ground arresting some teachers. Lal Saheb was informed that the police are going to arrest him, so he should leave his residence and arrange to pre-empt arrest. True to his character he refused to follow either of the two suggestions. Instead, he arrived at the Kotwali police station. In protest the entire city observed a bandh.

Teachers also recalled how he had volunteered to lead the first batch of teachers for courting arrest in Patna in 1983. He was the general secretary of the Rusta then. He was persuaded to join another group as the statewide teachers? agitation was picking up momentum, and absence of the association?s secretary would disturb it.