The disagreement over a plaque at Shantineketan in Bengal has escalated into a political controversy, resulting in a strongly worded letter from the Visva Bharati administration to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Vice-Chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty’s letter accused party leaders of sycophancy, megalomania, and corruption, and claimed that the Chief Minister is being influenced by them. Trinamool leaders argue that the Vice Chancellor’s letter is an attempt to gain favor with the central government as he seeks an extension.
In response, Mamata Banerjee criticized the Vice Chancellor, calling his behavior “abrasive and arrogant.” She urged the removal of plaques that exclude the name of Rabindranath Tagore, the founder of the institution, and accused the ruling dispensation in Delhi of neglecting the issue.
The controversy began when a plaque commemorating Shantineketan’s UNESCO World Heritage status mentioned the Vice Chancellor and the Prime Minister, but not Tagore. Banerjee objected to this omission, stating that it insulted Tagore and undermined India’s anti-colonial heritage.
The Vice Chancellor defended the plaque, stating that it included the Prime Minister’s name because of his role in obtaining the World Heritage tag. He also criticized Banerjee for her alleged favoritism and mentioned the legal troubles faced by some of her ministers.
Furthermore, the Vice Chancellor raised concerns about a road passing through the university that is under government control. He invited Banerjee to engage in a dialogue to understand the university’s perspective.
This is not the first conflict between the Vice Chancellor and the Chief Minister. They previously clashed over a property dispute involving Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen and the university.
Visva-Bharati is the only central university in India with the Prime Minister as its Chancellor.
