Clarifications on the limits of rights and powers is what professor Sanjay Mallik, the newly appointed interim vice chancellor of Visva-Bharati University, has sought from the Union education ministry on his first day in office to ascertain whether or not he can remove the controversial plaques that ignore the institution’s founder to announce UNESCO world heritage status for Santiniketan.

In a cryptic reply though, Mallik expressed his wish to resume Pous Mela and Basanta Utsav at the university premises, both flagship events of the institution which remained suspended for the last few years on orders of former VC Professor Bidyut Chakraborty, if powers vested in the interim VC allowed him to do so.

Ironically, on a day significant sections of Santiniketan residents rejoiced at the new incumbent to the institution’s top post – some even breaching the boundaries of dignity at Tagore’s abode of peace – cops from the local thana landed up at Chakraborty’s residence and handed him appearance summons in connection with six pending cases against him.

Speaking to reporters at the Santiniketan Upasana Griha, Mallik said that initiating the process of appointment of a permanent VC for Visva-Bharati would be among his top priorities. “It has been barely a few hours since I have assumed my charge. But this is a temporary responsibility and I am still not aware what exactly the limits of my powers and rights are,” Mallik said. “I have sought detailed clarifications from the ministry and unless those arrive, I would be in no position to state what the administration road map for Visva-Bharati would be like under my watch.” The interim VC was responding to a question on whether he would remove the controversial plaques set up by the previous VC, which ignore Tagore’s name to commemorate the UNESCO’s world heritage recognition for Santiniketan. “At this point of time, I have no idea if I can take any such steps,” he said.

The incumbent confirmed though that administrative meetings would soon be convened to address poignant issues currently confronting the university.

A single-sentence message from the Centre’s department of higher education on November 8 directed Chakraborty to hand over the charge of Vice Chancellor of the central university to Mallik after the tenure of the controversial term of Chakraborty expired on Wednesday. Mallik confirmed that he received a congratulatory text and a phone call from Chakraborty after the handover.

Mallik, however, confirmed that convening the meetings of Visva-Bharati Court and Executive Council, the two highest administrative bodies of the institution, essential to initiate the process of finding a permanent VC would be among his topmost agenda. “I am an academic and I have been made to sit on this chair by virtue of the Acts and Clauses of the statute of Visva-Bharati University. I need time to figure things out before I make any administrative decisions. I can’t take any wrong steps out of ignorance,” Mallik, who doubles up as the principal of Kala Bhavana (the university’s centre for Arts), maintained.

Asked whether he would resume Basanta Utsav and Pous Mela celebrations in Santiniketan, the interim VC smiled: “Let me answer that question indirectly. The Kala Bhavana is also my alma mater.” The oblique reference was, perceptively, to the fact that the Kala Bhavana formed the epicenter of Basanta Utsav celebrations which used to remain open to the general public until Chakraborty shut it down for “outsiders” four years ago.

Informed about a group of overzealous people resorting to “purifying” the campus after Chakraborty’s exit by sprinkling the area with holy waters from Ganges and smearing cow-dung while resorting to “celebrations” with colours, the new VC said: “I think somewhere down the line we failed to maintain the dignity of the man who founded this institution. We shouldn’t do anything to tarnish his image any further. We must refrain from doing things that could make people ask whether those are expected of Visva-Bharati and Santiniketan.”

Meanwhile, police from Santiniketan police station handed over appearance summons to Chakraborty to assist the investigation of six cases lodged against the former VC. The notices were handed over at Chakraborty’s official residence in the campus which he is yet to vacate. The cases include a recent FIR lodged by the Santiniketan Trust which alleged that the VC set up the plaques in an illegal manner over land managed by the trust and one dating back to 2019 when the Bolpur business community filed a complaint against Chakraborty for a spat over the Pous Mela.

“We will extend full administrative cooperation of Visva-Bharati to the police should they ask for it,” the new VC said.