Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya (MGAHV) Prof Rajneesh Kumar Shukla, who has been in the midst of a controversy for the past two-and-a-half months, finally submitted his resignation to the Chancellor on Monday. There were serious allegations against Shukla about sexual exploitation of a woman. The chats about the issue had also gone viral on social media. Besides, students had also launched an agitation demanding his resignation for the last few days. Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor (V-C) along with his family had refuted all the allegations levelled against him at a press conference held at Nagarjuna Auditorium. Finally, due to continuous defamation and the ongoing agitation of the students, Prof Shukla sent his resignation to the Chancellor.

 

An official order issued by the University Registrar said that till further arrangement was made by the Chancellor’s Office, senior lecturer of the university Prof L Karunyakara would be the acting Vice Chancellor. When contacted, Registrar Kadar Nawaz Khan informed that Vice-Chancellor Rajneesh Kumar Shukla’s resignation has been sent to the Ministry. The President will take the decision on it. Khan also informed that Shukla has voluntarily resigned from his post due to personal reasons. Rajneesh Kumar Shukla could not be contacted since he was not responding to the phone call. Meanwhile, after the resignation of Shukla, the students immediately withdrew their agitation.

 

 

Prof L Karunyakara will be the activing Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of MGAHV. He founded Ambedkar Study Circle (ASC) in MGAHV, Wardha, on February 21, 2022, to organise Ambedkar Book Reading Sessions every week with an aim to study and discuss Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s writing and speeches. He chose February 21, the L Karunyakara is acting V-C (Contd from page 1) day when Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar had completed the Draft Constitution of India in 1948. He is Founder Chairperson of ASC. On December 6, 2022, he founded a group of Ambedkarites For Dalit Unity. The core thought was to bring unity among Dalits. Ambedkarites For Dalit Unity (AFDU) is an informal group of young Ambedkarites that consists mostly his students working against caste and religion-based hatred within the Dalits. Prof Karunyakara has written many research papers and books. At present, he is working on a social theory ‘Pure Dalit Theory’. He is also working on ‘Cultural Ambedkar’ to study Dr Ambedkar’s cultural perspective. His book ‘Dalit History’ will be published soon. Prof Karunyakara is perhaps the seniormost Dalit Professor in India with 15 years of experience as a Professor of the Central University. During his 25 years of academic service, he had been guide to many research scholars who have been awarded doctorate degrees.