Agartala: Tripura University will be developed as a major centre of teaching and learning by engaging in community-development initiatives, research on indigenous therapy techniques, ancient art, traditional culture and preserve history and language of the state, vice-chancellor professor Vijaykumar Laxmikantrao Dharurkar said.

Tripura University earlier ranked among 11 under-performing universities of the country and struggled to maintain its motto, "Pursuit of Excellence".

Caught in a series of controversies, the university had to conduct internal audit and a special inquiry on a host of allegations.

Dharurkar joined on July 16 this year as the third vice-chancellor of the central university.

"We shall engage in largescale geographical, anthropological research cantering historical ruins in the state. We hope to conduct research on Unakoti, Devatamura, Pilak and other historical ruins of Tripura and project them to popularise Tripura in the academic and tourist arena," Dharurkar told The Telegraph.

He also said he would take steps to project Tripura University by focusing on teaching indigenous culture and language. "We have Kokborok, lingua franca of indigenous communities in Tripura, as a subject in the MA programme. We also have a department for social exclusion and inclusion. These departments need to be projected across the country. I believe they will go a long way in developing indigenous communities of Tripura and enable them to contribute to nation building," he said.

On plans to modernise the university, he said steps would be taken to find hidden talents, especially from tribal communities, and mentor them. An IAS coaching centre would be set up on the university campus from current academic year itself, he said.

The university would also adopt five villages to develop them as model habitations.

On industrial engagement to boost placement from professional and vocational programmes, Dharurkar said, "We shall start further industrial interaction ahead. I am planning to hold a Tripura University Industry-Academic Interaction Summit every year from now on."

On largescale irregularities and alleged scam during the tenure of the previous vice-chancellor professor Anjan Kumar Ghosh, Dharurkar said all irregularities will be dealt with.

"I do not want to dig up old issues. I have received a report and action is being taken. But now is the time to develop Tripura University into an A-category university and leading university of the Northeast in the next five years," he said.

Born to a teacher in Umargao, a small village in the Maharashtra-Hyderabad border, Dharurkar joined the RSS at the age of six .

He also worked as a journalist for three years in a newspaper called Sanchar during his college days. Later in his life, Dharurkar served with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from 1976 till 1980. During those days, he surveyed large parts of Dhulia district in Maharashtra and excavated historical remains of an ancient period. He taught in a college in Nasik, later in Shivaji University at Kolhapur and taught mass communication for 38 years at Marathwada University at Aurangabad since 1982.