The decision of the Dharwad-based Karnatak University to close down some departments in the varsity which are facing a shortage of students has evoked strong protests from students' organisations.
The All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO) has taken up cudgels against the varsity for its move to close down the departments and has threatened to launch an agitation if the varsity went ahead with its decision.
Terming the varsity's decision to close down 11 post-graduate departments in the university citing a shortage of students as reason as unfortunate and condemnable, AIDSO said that the move was anti-knowledge, anti-education and anti-student.
The office bearers of the district unit of AIDSO met the registrar G B Nandan on Monday and submitted a memorandum urging the varsity to desist from its move.
Vice-chancellor H B Walikar had recently confirmed that the university was seriously considering closing down 11 PG departments and had said the teaching staff working in these departments would be accommodated elsewhere. The departments that face the threat of closure include biotechnology, microbiology, anthropology and Sanskrit among others.
Sharanu Gonawar, secretary of the district unit of AIDSO, said it was ridiculous on the part of Karnatak University to close down the Sanskrit department while the state government had started a separate university to encourage the study of the Sanskrit. Similarly, the move to close microbiology and biotechnology departments while the two subjects are popular, lacks logical thinking, he said.
Gangadhar Badiger, district president of AIDSO blamed the government for "creating an impression among the students that study of humanities, languages and basic sciences would not provide employment and hence were not worth studying".
