Bilaspur, January 10, 2025 : A video that went viral on social media has sparked strong criticism against the Vice Chancellor of Guru Ghasidas Central University in Chhattisgarh. The video shows the Vice Chancellor, Alok Kumar Chakrawal, asking a well-known Hindi writer to leave a national seminar in the middle of the programme after a brief argument.
The incident happened on Wednesday during a one-day national seminar on “Samkalin Hindi Kahani: Badalte Jeevan Sandarbh” (Contemporary Hindi Story: Changing Life Contexts). The seminar was jointly organised by the Sahitya Akademi and the university. Many senior writers, poets, and literary figures from across the country were present.
According to the video, while addressing the audience, the Vice Chancellor asked invited writer Manoj Rupda, who was seated in the front row, whether he was feeling bored. Rupda reportedly replied that the Vice Chancellor should speak on the seminar topic. This response appeared to anger Chakrawal.
In the video, Chakrawal can be heard questioning Rupda’s manner of speaking and asking who had invited him. He then told Rupda to leave the programme and said he should not be invited again. Rupda is seen leaving the auditorium immediately.
Later, Rupda said he had no personal grudge against the Vice Chancellor. However, he said the strong reaction from writers showed that the incident was seen as an insult to the entire literary community, not just to him. He added that many people present felt he had done nothing wrong and that the protest was against a negative and unhealthy attitude toward literature and art.
Reacting to the incident, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel called the Vice Chancellor’s behaviour highly condemnable and said it damaged the dignity of the office he holds.
Members of the Jan Sanskriti Manch who attended the seminar also criticised the incident. Mudit Mishra, president of the organisation’s Bilaspur unit, said the episode showed a lack of respect for literature, art, and culture. He pointed out that Manoj Rupda had been invited jointly by the Sahitya Akademi and the university.
Mishra also noted that Rupda has a long association with Chhattisgarh, having spent several years in the Durg-Bhilai region, even though he now lives in Nagpur.
Following the incident, members of Jan Sanskriti Manch in Durg-Bhilai, Raipur, Ambikapur, Dhamtari, and Bilaspur demanded Chakrawal’s removal from the post of Vice Chancellor. A group of writers also held a protest near the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar at Ambedkar Chowk in Raipur.
While the Vice Chancellor later said the issue was being exaggerated, many writers and observers believe that a person appointed to a prestigious post like that of Vice Chancellor is expected to show restraint, respect, and dignity. Such behaviour, they argue, is not acceptable from someone holding one of the highest academic offices.
