‘Man of his words, who revoked ban on student union election’

Prayagraj: On a day when mortal remains of Samajwadi Party (SP) patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav were consigned to flames on Tuesday, faculty members and student leaders of Allahabad University (AU) fondly recalled the memories when the socialist stalwart honoured his promise made to the varsity and revoked the ban on student union polls.
The three-time former chief minister passed away aged 82 at a private hospital in Gurugram on Monday.
Though, Yadav had visited the central university many a time but the most nostalgic and memorable one was his August 29, 2003 visit soon after taking oath as chief minister, remembered dean college and development at AU and professor at department of political science prof Pankaj Kumar.
“It was on August 29, 2003, when Mulayam Singh Yadav, immediately after taking oath as the Chief Minister of UP for the third time, had arrived at AU and announced the decision to revoke the ban on student union elections which was imposed by his predecessor, Mayawati.”
He said student leaders of AU had organised an event titled, ‘young student’s intellectuals conference’ at the Union Hall of the Arts campus on August 29, 2003 as the event was not allowed to be held on the main campus.
“When the event was conceptualised, BSP supremo Mayawati was the CM and the organisers had invited Mulayam Singh Yadav for the event. However, following a fast-changing political development in the state, Yadav took oath as the Chief Minister on August 29 morning. Although, organisers had thought that he would not be attending the event, given his busy schedule, but as he was man of his words, soon after taking oath, Mulayam reached the Union hall,” said Kumar.
He was accompanied by Janeshwar Mishra (popularly known as Chhote Lohia) and Mohan Singh and addressed a huge gathering of students at Union hall, he added.
After attending the event, Mulayam had also visited the residence of prof Pankaj Kumar at Bank road.
“He was vegetarian and his favourite food was kadhi, roti and dahi-aalu (a cuisine made from curd and potato) which is very famous in Etawah too,” said Pankaj.
Former president of AUSU and advocate of Allahabad High Court KK Rai recalled how Mulayam was stunned and pleased to see the crowd of students at the function.
“He had said more youths are present here than were there in Etawah, when he (Mulayam) was released from jail after the Emergency,” said Rai. In 1996, Yadav again visited AU to attend the convocation ceremony. He was the Defence Minister of the country then. This programme had taken place in the Science Faculty in which Nobel laureate professor Richard was awarded an honorary degree. The ‘Missile-Man’ of the country and former President APJ Abdul Kalam and former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) TN Seshan also attended the ceremony.
Yadav had also visited the campus in 1996 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of student union president Krishnamurti Yadav.