Vajpayee go back, say Shantiniketan students

shantiniketan: angry students of viswa bharati raised slogans against acharaya and prime minister atal behari vajpayee after the convocation ceremony on saturday. "vajpayee go back," shouted the fresh graduates after they learnt that the university, for the first time in its history, was breaking the tradition of the acharya personally handing over the traditional chhatim leaf to initiate the students into graduation.this had to be done in view of the unprecedented security in and around shantiniketan campus. the cops decided to take no chance and the university authorities had to fall in line and even accept a break in tradition. the proceedings went on more or less smoothly since the morning though discontent was simmering among nearly 2200 new graduates who had congregated to their alma mater to get the certificate from the acharya. when it came to the graduation ceremony proper, it was announced that the principals of respective bhavans would hand over the certificates. pratima trivedi of hindi bhavan, who was one of the recipients of the chhatim leaf from the acharya, could not put up with it any more. pratima crossed over from her enclosure, grabbed the microphone from bewildered musicians and put her appeal across to acharya atal behari vajpayee. "we always look forward to this day. some of us have come from as far away places like maharashtra and keral, hoping to get the traditional chhatim leaf from the acharya. you must realize it is a big day for us," she screamed at the microphone, much to the embarrassment of the faculty members. it was then that a section of the agitated students shouted slogans, demanding vajpayee's exit. the prime minister, however, took things on his stride. "i can understand and appreciate your feelings. had i been a student, i would have also wanted to have my present from the acharya himself. but you must also understand that your acharya also has the duty of being the prime minister of the country," vajpayee said. a visibly agitated jayashree sengupta, who had come to receive her graduation certificate from the acharya said that if it was not possible for vajpayee to hand over the certificates personally, the university authorities should not have sent out a letter to this effect.