The Vice-Chancellor of Tribhuvan University expresses unwavering commitment publicly, resonating with repeated echoes of dedication. However, historical repetitions often occur due to personal interests or the influence of other vice-chancellors. When viewed from the perspective of serving self-interest groups, there is a frequent revival of old history.
The three-member Vice-Chancellor Selection Committee, led by Vice-Chancellor Shivalal Bhusal, has, for the second time, appointed various college heads, department heads, and assistant deans in the faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The committee made the shortlist public for the selection of the vice-chancellor, and the appointed vice-chancellor is tasked with fulfilling party responsibilities. From the Nepali Congress faction, Ganga Ram Paudel is appointed as the Ilam Campus Chief, Krishna Neupane as the Head of Nepali Central Department, and Dinesh Pathak as the Head of Geology Department.
Similarly, in the Nepali Congress faction, Chetraj Bhatta is appointed as the Head of the Mathematics Central Department, Rameshwar Acharya as the Chief of Public Youth College, Kapil Kafle as the Chief of Rampur Agriculture Campus, and Chiranjivi Acharya as the Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Humanities.
Likewise, from the Maoist faction, Navaraj Paudel is appointed as the Gorkha Campus Chief, Milan Subedi as the Lamjung Campus Chief, and Shyambahadur Karki as the Chief of Nepal College, according to an administrative officer at Tribhuvan University.
On Magh 24, 2080, Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa, in a 38-minute address at the Hetauda Convention of the Representative Assembly, emphasized the need for unbiased leadership in higher education. Although he mentioned avoiding compromises, he revealed a consistent recommendation for elevating party workers to key positions in Tribhuvan University.
Similarly, during the 49th convocation ceremony of Tribhuvan University held in the past two months, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal asserted the importance of avoiding political interference in the university. However, he appears to have accepted the dual character in the appointment of campus officials.
President Dahal, on Magh 10, 2080, highlighted the necessity of focusing on the best minds to build a country and breaking through traditional hierarchies to prevent the university from becoming a political battleground. Despite his strong words, Vice-Chancellor Bhusal is being appointed to a key position in the political faction.
Currently holding the position of Director of Education and Registrar in Tribhuvan, he and the associate vice-chancellor's actions are under close scrutiny. The responsibilities given by the Prime Minister's Office are limited to daily operations. Following this assignment, Bhusal, having worked as an associate vice-chancellor, has applied to become the vice-chancellor and successfully advanced to the first phase of the selection among the 14 individuals.
Experts raise questions about how, even after becoming the vice-chancellor again, he will bring about improvements in Tribhuvan, emphasizing the need for a fresh start to be effective.
