Tension at Tezpur University Over Alleged Disrespect Towards Late Singer Zubeen Garg

Students at Tezpur University expressed outrage over the administration's failure to honour late singer Zubeen Garg. They demanded an apology for not organising a formal memorial or suspending classes in tribute.

A tense atmosphere gripped Tezpur University in Assam as students accused the administration of disrespecting singer Zubeen Garg, whose passing led to state mourning. The vice-chancellor, Shambhu Nath Singh, faced criticism from students who protested in front of the administrative block, demanding an apology for not honouring the late singer-composer appropriately, according to an official.

Students expressed dissatisfaction with the university's handling of Garg's death. They claimed that no formal memorial was organised and classes continued as usual, which they viewed as disrespectful. An anonymous official mentioned that students had already been upset with the vice-chancellor, and the lack of a memorial intensified their grievances.

Student Demands and University Response

On Sunday, students submitted a list of demands to the university. These included a week-long tribute to Garg and an apology for the delayed response in offering condolences. They also requested a meeting with the vice-chancellor, who was in New Delhi at that time. The university issued a press statement on Sunday about the memorial and included a condolence message from the vice-chancellor.

The students had organised their own candlelight memorial on Friday after Garg's tragic death while swimming in Singapore. Despite this effort, they felt the university's response was inadequate. The situation escalated when the vice-chancellor returned and engaged in discussions with the students.

Escalation and Police Intervention

During talks on Monday evening, students were dissatisfied with Singh's response. Tensions rose, leading to an exchange of words, forcing Singh to leave as the situation became heated. The police intervened to restore order as students continued their demonstration outside the administrative block.

The incident highlighted existing discontent among students towards Singh. They believed that failing to organise an official memorial for Garg was disrespectful and demanded accountability from university authorities.

The situation at Tezpur University underscores the importance of timely and respectful tributes in honouring prominent figures like Zubeen Garg. The administration's response to such events can significantly impact student sentiment and campus harmony.

With inputs from PTI