High drama ensues at MSU’s performing arts faculty

Vadodara: High drama was witnessed at the Faculty of Performing Arts of the M S University (MSU) during the practical exams for the dance department. Questions are also being raised if the practical exams were completed in the true sense at the faculty.
The drama had unfolded on Tuesday when nine girl students of the dance department alleged that they were being troubled by a teacher Ami Pandya. The written representation by the students made a series of allegations against Pandya and said that they would not appear for exams if she remained present as an examiner.
On Thursday, Pandya was present in the exam when it began and the students who had levelled allegations against her denied to take the practical exams.
After the stand off continued for hours, the MSU administration decided to ask Pandya to step aside. On coming to know of this, the Maharaja Sayajirao Visvavidyalaya Shaikshik Sangh (MSVSS) – a union of teachers at the university – stepped in and defended Pandya.
MSVSS functionaries claimed that till Tuesday, no allegations had been made against Pandya. Also, the allegations were largely regarding her not teaching properly, the way she managed students and other issues. This did not indicate that she was biased against students and would fail them in the exam as was feared in the allegations made against her.
A MSVSS representative said that in wake of the representations, Pandya was asked to sit in the exam after the lunch break. Only some minor work had been done for the practical exams till the lunch break. When Pandya remained present in the examination after the lunch break, the row began afresh. The faculty abruptly declared that the exams were over.
The university’s U turns on first asking Pandya to step aside from the process and then asking her to join it again have raised several eyebrows. Sources said that the entire episode had its roots in the bitter infighting amongst some staffers of the faculty. The faculty has factions that are at loggerheads with each other.
MSU’s official on special duty (registrar) N K Oza said that the dean of the faculty had been asked to prepare a report regarding the issue. On being asked if there were any complaints against Pandya earlier, he admitted that nothing had come to the notice of the MSU administration till Tuesday.