Sudhanshu Sharma
Shimla
The Himachal Pradesh University Teachers’ Welfare Association (HPUTWA) staged a powerful protest today at the university campus, opposing what it termed repeated assaults on the institution’s autonomy, academic freedom, and institutional dignity.
Addressing the gathering, speakers including Prof. Kulbhushan Chandel, Chaudhary Varyam Singh Bains (Member, HPU Alumni Association), Dr. Shashikant Sharma, Prof. Nitin Vyas (President, HPUTWA), and former president Prof. Harish Thakur expressed deep concern over the growing interference in the university’s independent functioning.
They said that over the past 56 years, thousands of teachers, employees, and students have contributed their hard work and dedication to build HPU’s reputation. Any attempt to undermine its autonomy, they warned, is not only an attack on the rights of the present academic community but also an insult to the sacrifices of those who established the university’s legacy.
HPUTWA issued a stern warning, stating: “Undermining autonomy is not merely about taking away administrative powers—it reflects distrust in the collective intellectual strength and professional dignity of teachers. A university is not a government office run by files; it is a center of knowledge, research, and democratic dialogue. Imposing external control by bypassing statutory bodies like the Academic Council and Executive Council is an attack on the soul of the university.”
The association clarified that it supports accountability but will not accept subordination in its name. It urged the government to focus on providing adequate funding, modern laboratories, research grants, hostels, sports facilities, and robust infrastructure instead of increasing administrative control.
During the protest, teachers raised slogans emphasizing: “Make the university accountable, not subordinate; give it resources, not restrictions. Improve its shortcomings, but don’t take away its autonomy.”
Concluding the demonstration, HPUTWA President Prof. Nitin Vyas said the protest was a symbolic warning. If the attacks on autonomy continue, the association will be compelled to launch a wider movement. He thanked senior professors, staff, students, and research scholars for their solidarity in the cause.
