Visva-Bharati University gets new interim Vice-Chancellor who is from ST community

Professor Binoy Kumar Saren has been named the interim Vice-Chancellor of Visva-Bharati University (VBU), marking a historic first as the first person from the Scheduled Tribe community to assume the role. The announcement was made by the university's registrar in a statement on Saturday, effective from September 1, 2024.

Saren, who is currently the principal of Palli Shiksha Bhavana and a senior member of the Executive Council (Karma-Samiti) of Visva-Bharati, steps into the position following the end of Arabindo Mondal’s tenure. The appointment is in accordance with Statute 3(6) of the Visva-Bharati Statutes.

Kausik Bhattacharya, Secretary of the Visva-Bharati University Faculty Association, expressed congratulations to Saren and affirmed the faculty's commitment to support him during his interim tenure. Bhattacharya also voiced hopes for a permanent Vice-Chancellor to be appointed soon.

Previously, after the retirement of the ‘controversial’ Vice-Chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty in November 2023, Sanjay Kumar Mallick was appointed as the acting Vice-Chancellor. VBU, the sole central university in West Bengal, continues its leadership transition with this new appointment.