THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a move that may bring disgrace to the Calicut University, the newly constituted Syndicate is planning to reject the proposal to name the newly constructed multipurpose complex at the headquarters as Tagore Niketan and make it a memorial for Panakkad Syed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal.The Syndicate, dominated by Muslim League loyalists, at its first meeting on Saturday deferred the decision on the name following protest from some members.Following a UGC circular, the Syndicate appointed during the LDF rule had decided to name the complex after Rabindranath Tagore, to commomerate his 150th birth anniversary.The two-storeyed building, which is designed by the National Institute of Technology (NIT) and constructed at a cost of `4 crore, is meant to house the students facilitation centre with services like coaching centre, PRO’s office, cyber centre, online admission facilities and rest room.“In the circular, the UGC had directed the Universities to celebrate Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary befittingly. Following this, the works committee of the Syndicate with C P Aboobacker as Convener placed the proposal to name the building as ‘Tagore Niketan’ before the previous Syndicate.“The newly appointed Syndicate has to ratify the decision, which has now been deferred,” a former Syndicate member told Express.It is learnt that some pro-IUML staff organisations impressed upon several new Syndicate members to make it a memorial for the late IUML leader.Calicut University Vice-Chancellor M Abdul Salam, when contacted, said, “One of the staff organisations had submitted a petition seeking a new name for the building a few days before the Syndicate meeting. When this matter came before discussion in the Syndicate, the objection from another organisation was pointed out. Citing this, members opined to defer the decision.”Leaders of the Association of Calicut University Teachers, a pro-Left organisation in the University, said they would not support such a move.“We came to know that there is such a move and we are strongly opposing it. It is totally unfair,” association secretary M Manoharan said.Several teachers and officials, including former Registrar, have come up against the move.“Are the Vice-Chancellor and Syndicate so mean to change the name of Tagore, a globally reputed poet, by considering an insignificant letter from a staff association,” asked former Registrar and Professor T K Narayanan.
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