Rajiv Gandhi University has a new face at the top — and if Tuesday’s welcome function was anything to go by, the faculty is cautiously hopeful.
On August 5, the Teachers’ Association of Rajiv Gandhi University (RGUTA) hosted a formal welcome for newly appointed Vice Chancellor Prof. Shivaraj at the university campus in Rono Hills. It wasn’t just a ceremony. It quickly turned into something more honest — an open conversation between a new leader and the people who’ve been waiting for one.
More Than a Welcome Ceremony
The programme kicked off with a felicitation of Prof. Shivaraj, but the real moment came after — an interactive session where faculty members didn’t hold back. Pension concerns, salary gaps, the long-pending Career Advancement Scheme, campus space issues — it all came to the table. That kind of candour at a first meeting says something. The teachers wanted to be heard, and by the looks of it, the new VC was listening.
Prof. Shivaraj told the gathering he’s no stranger to these struggles. Having served in both university administration and faculty associations before, he said he understands what teachers go through — and he meant it as more than a formality. He confirmed the CAS process has already been initiated and assured that recruitment under the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) would begin at the earliest. On the campus water supply problem, he was direct: it will be fixed.
Teachers Are the Real Infrastructure
One line from his address stood out and deserved to be said more often in academic spaces. Prof. Shivaraj stated that the true strength of any educational institution lies not in its infrastructure but in its teaching community. In a region where universities often chase rankings and buildings, that’s a refreshing thing to hear from the top.
He stressed that students should leave RGU equipped not just with professional skills, but with a genuine sense of responsibility toward society. That’s a vision, not just a speech line — and the faculty will be watching to see if it translates into real policy.
Research With a Purpose
Prof. Shivaraj emphasized the importance of research, calling it the backbone of a university, and noted that publishing research alone is not sufficient — it must address local challenges while maintaining national and international relevance. He pointed to Arunachal Pradesh’s extraordinary biodiversity as an untapped academic resource and urged departments to think multidisciplinary and collaborative. Given RGU’s unique geographical position, that’s not just good advice — it’s an opportunity most universities would envy.
Hope Tempered With Expectation
RGUTA president Prof. Tage Rupa Sora summed up the mood of the room well — welcoming Prof. Shivaraj with warmth while making it clear that the faculty’s expectations run deep. Merit recognition, participatory governance, a stronger research culture, equal treatment of all staff — the list isn’t short. And it shouldn’t be.
RGU has seen leadership changes before. What makes this moment different is the openness with which both sides started the conversation. The new VC now has a mandate that’s been spoken aloud. Delivering on it — that’s where the real work begins.
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