Unrest in Visva-Bharati over student expulsions halts admissions, results

Tagore’s descendant expresses concern as situation is likely to balloon into a larger confrontation

In the latest in the string of unpleasant events that have plagued the Visva-Bharati in its centenary year, unrest over the recent rustication of three students has led to the closure of its central office and results and admissions being put on hold. The students — Somnath Sow and Falguni Pan of economics and Rupa Chakraborty of Hindustani classical music — were expelled for three years on August 23 for taking part in a campus protest back in January 2020. The three, already under suspension for about nine months, were charged with “gross indiscipline and misconduct”. Following their expulsion, a group of students last Friday began a sit-in outside the home of Vice-Chancellor Bidyut Chakrabarty. This, in return, prompted the university to issue successive circulars on Monday saying admissions and the publication of results were being put on hold considering the Vice-Chancellor, whose physical presence was required for these processes, was “currently under siege”.