Vandalism at Udaipur university after VC's praise for Aurangzeb

Students, who are suspected to be ABVP activists, vandalized the administrative block of Mohanlal Sukhadia University (MLSU) on Monday in protest against vice-chancellor Sunita Mishra's comment praising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb as a "good administrator" while speaking on an international seminar organized by the university on Sept 12 at the university campus.

In her 23-minute speech at the seminar, Mishra discussed a range of subjects that varied from Maharana Pratap and Prithviraj Chauhan to the Mughal period. Referring to Aurangzeb's administrative skills too, while discussing the "mixed legacy of history,".

A student leader meet was conducted with Registrar VC Garg. The students cleared out after Garg promised them that their issues would be settled. Mishra, appointed vice-chancellor in Aug 2023 under former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot's tenure, stood up for her comments.

"Yes, I declared that Aurangzeb was a good administrator-but my words don't stop here. My second statement was that he is the one who is responsible for the rift created by his policies such as jaziya (taxation of non-Muslims). A part of my speech was selectively highlighted by the ABVP, a section of university teachers and some right-wing organizations as a part of a propaganda to get me out of the job," Mishra said to TOI on Monday.

She added that in her address, she also lauded Maharana Pratap, Prithviraj Chauhan and Emperor Akbar, "according to what our historians have concluded."

Regarding Monday's vandalism, she added, "This is the work of ABVP goons who wanted to inflict physical injury on me. I have instructed the police not to be soft on them. Let's see if they take action or not."

Mishra, who hails from Odisha, is a professor at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Central University in Lucknow and is on deputation to work as VC of MLSU.