Mysore uni V-C in new row after auditorium gets named after him
MUSURU: University of Mysore vice-chancellor Prof K S Rangappa has landed in yet another row. A swanky, 300-seater auditorium in the university’s newly built School of Planning and Architecture building has been named after him. While Syndicate members say the matter never came up during meetings, the V-C claims it was the university’s decision.
Sources said that a vice-chancellor naming something after himself has never happened in the university’s 100-year-old history. Usually, the university names a institute, building, road or auditorium after someone only after their death in recognition of their contribution to society. Even the university’s Institute of Kannada Studies was renamed after Kuvempu only after his death in 1994.
This is the second controversy involving Prof Rangappa in a month. Earlier he had been made Lifelong Distinguished Professor at a Syndicate meeting chaired and approved by him. The auditorium, with a seating capacity of 300, comes with a pantry, making it one of the finest facilities in the university. The auditorium is housed in a building, whose construction is yet to be completed, but was inaugurated by Vice-President Hamid Ansari during the centenary celebrations.
University Executive Engineer Kishore Chandra said the Syndicate approved the auditorium to be named after Prof Rangappa about two months ago. He said the building will have an entrance from Mysuru-Bantwal highway so that it can be accessible solely to VIPs during big events held here. He said it will take another 3-4 months to complete the building construction taken up at a cost of `18 crore.
Syndicate member MSS Kumar, however, said the matter never came up before the Syndicate and hence there was no question of approving it. He added that it was not surprising as many activities were taking place in the varsity without proper approvals. He said he will take up the matter with the authorities.
Prof Rangappa said naming of the auditorium after him was the university’s decision and not his. Asked whether there was any provision to do so, he said if there was no provision for it, then it would not have happened.