The varsity will also set up a “Kamdhenu Chair” in its biotechnology department. Express photo
With an intention to spread “positive energy” on the campus, authorities at the Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) in Surat have decided to house around five to seven cows on the construction site of the new administrative building, officials said.
In the months to come, the varsity will also set up a “Kamdhenu Chair” in its biotechnology department to promote cow-based research and entrepreneurship in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Sources in the VNSGU said the decision to keep cows on the campus and look after them was taken after advice from an astrologer following recent problems hitting the university such as paper leak, low pass percentage of students in undergraduate courses, delay in tendering process for different works, and other issues.
A few weeks ago, the university demolished its original administrative building, constructed over 48 years ago, after it developed cracks and a survey report revealed that it was not fit for use. For the last one year, the administrative branch offices of the old building have been functioning out of other buildings on the campus.
Sources said the government has approved a grant of Rs 30 crore, the first installment of which arrived a couple of weeks ago, for the construction of the new building.
Besides architects, the 60-year-old university also contacted a Jyotish Shashtri (astrologer) and Vastu experts and showed them around the campus to decide the location of the new buildings, the sources said, adding the experts picked three locations.
VNSGU Vice Chancellor Dr K N Chawda told The Indian Express, “The Jyotish expert suggested that if five to seven cows are kept for one month at the location of the new building, and they are given special care, it will generate positive energy and help the administration run the premises smoothly. We have contacted a few NGOs and sought their help in providing a few cows, which would be kept on the varsity campus inside a temporary shed. An NGO will visit us in the next few days.”
On plans for the new building, he said, “The old administrative building was only two floors high, but we are planning to construct the new building up to five-six floors so that more offices can be accommodated. The new building will have a parking facility for staffers and students. We have shortlisted three new locations on the campus and are working on finalising one.”
About the “Kamdhenu Chair”, sources said its role would be to spread awareness and education. A four-credit multidisciplinary elective course on “Cow-based Research and Entrepreneurship” would be developed and will include cow-based farming, organic products, Ayurveda, and biogas technology as subjects. The chair will also promote pioneering research in cow-based products and technologies such as biofertilisers and natural pesticides.
Besides, the university will organise workshops and support students in developing start-ups focused on cow-based industries. It will also organise training programmes in collaboration with industry partners for students, farmers and entrepreneurs to develop skills.
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