Guwahati, Dec 29: Stakeholders of Tezpur University on December 29 escalated their ongoing protest by launching a 24-hour hunger strike, marking 100 days of continuous agitation against Vice-Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh over allegations of corruption and administrative misconduct.
The hunger strike, which began at midnight and was scheduled to continue until late night, was jointly observed by students, faculty members and non-teaching staff under the banner of the Tezpur University United Forum. Protesters said the step was taken after months of demonstrations failed to elicit any response or assurance from the authorities.
The central university, located in Assam’s Sonitpur district, had witnessed repeated disruptions to academic and administrative functioning since late November as protests intensified. Demonstrators had been demanding the removal of the vice-chancellor and an independent probe into alleged financial irregularities and governance failures during his tenure.
Members of the forum said the completion of 100 days of protest symbolised administrative neglect rather than progress. They alleged that the vice-chancellor had remained largely away from the campus, while higher authorities continued to maintain silence, leaving the institution in a state of uncertainty.
Faculty and staff bodies, including the teachers’ and non-teaching employees’ associations, joined the hunger strike in solidarity, describing it as a unified stand to press for accountability and transparency.
Protesters also claimed that issues at the university reflected a broader failure of oversight in public institutions. Alongside administrative concerns, they alleged environmental damage on campus, including large-scale tree felling carried out during the current leadership.
Tensions had first surfaced in mid-September following student allegations that the vice-chancellor had acted insensitively towards noted cultural figure Zubeen Garg during a period of public mourning. The situation worsened after a confrontation on September 22, after which the vice-chancellor reportedly stopped attending the campus.
Since the agitation began, at least 11 senior officials and faculty members had either resigned or left their positions, highlighting the depth of the crisis as the protest entered its fourth month.
