Staff celebrate Calicut University Vice Chancellor’s retirement

KOZHIKODE: The Calicut University campus was in a festive mood on Tuesday with high-pitch music and slogans for and against Dr M. Abdul Salam on his last day in the office.

When the non-teaching staff org-anised a procession celebrating the VC’s exit, the local people did a tit-for-tat with a vehicle procession in support of Dr Salam, who was popular among them. Meanwhile, Kannur University VC Dr M.K. Abdul Khader took over the charge of VC from Dr Salam at a function held at the VC’s residence on Tuesday evening.

On his final day, Dr Salam opted to stay back in his official residence on the campus where his supporters, mainly local people and students outside the varsity campus, gathered to greet him.

A number of students of distance education stream organised a farewell to the VC at his residence, who introduced many positive steps in the distance education.

The VC who turned emotional during the send-off than-ked the people for their support. He was later taken out in a procession from the campus.

Addressing the press, Dr Abdul Salam said that he doesn’t have any issue over not getting a farewell from the staff. He said protests are part of system and he will continue in the academic field based in Kozh-ikode. In-charge VC Dr M.K. Abdul Khader said that he will strive hard for the betterment of the varsity.

Meanwhile, the non-teaching staff under the aegis of Samyukta Samara Samithi organised a procession to celebrate Dr Salam’s exit. Almost all the staff in the varsity took part in the procession.

The employees burst crackers and conducted a mock public trial of the VC. They also organized a mock ‘thulabharam’ with the disciplinary memos issued by Dr Salam during his four-year tenure.