The protest stems from events at a national seminar on “Contemporary Hindi Short Stories,” held on January 7 at GGU, where writers and professors from several states, including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha, had gathered. According to participants, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Alok Chakrawal, while addressing the audience, began narrating personal life experiences rather than speaking on the academic theme. Some attendees reportedly felt uncomfortable as the address drifted away from the subject of the seminar.
The situation escalated when the Vice-Chancellor asked writer Manoj Rupda whether he was feeling bored. Rupda responded that it would be better to focus on the topic of the seminar. Witnesses alleged that Prof. Chakrawal reacted sharply, questioned the writer’s manner of addressing the Vice-Chancellor, and asked him to leave the venue. Rupda subsequently walked out, after which several other writers and professors objected to the conduct. They claimed the Vice-Chancellor then suggested that anyone dissatisfied could also leave.
In response, writers and cultural figures in Bilaspur staged a protest and submitted a memorandum through the district collector addressed to the Governor and the President of India. The memorandum alleges that a guest writer was publicly insulted at a national academic forum and calls for Prof. Chakrawal’s immediate removal from office. Protesters warned of a broader movement if no action is taken.
Speaking to the media, members of the literary community said the episode reflected an abuse of authority and undermined the dignity of a central university. “Universities are meant to encourage dialogue and dissent. What happened on the stage goes against the very spirit of academic freedom,” one senior writer said.
The protesters also claimed the incident has tarnished the university’s reputation at the national level. They urged authorities to review video footage of the event and initiate disciplinary proceedings against the Vice-Chancellor. As of now, the university administration has not issued an official response to the allegations.
The matter continues to resonate in academic and literary circles, with calls for institutional accountability growing louder in the wake of the controversy.
1.jpg)
