Guwahati: Amid escalating tensions on the Tezpur University campus, Assam Congress President and Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi addressed students and faculty on Sunday.
He drew parallels between the institution’s historic origins and the ongoing movement demanding the resignation of Vice Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh.
The demonstrations have intensified over alleged administrative failures, with students calling for government action and describing their stance as ‘firm and dignified.’
Posting on X, Gogoi referenced the university’s founding legacy from the student-led movements of the late 1980s and noted that current students were continuing that tradition.
He wrote, “Tezpur University was given sanction by an Act of Parliament in 1994. Its genesis lies in the student-led movement in Assam in the late 80s. Today we see the power of Gen Z again. The students and faculty of Tezpur University stand tall like #kanchanjunga. Late Zubeen Da would be proud of you. We are Assam. This is #NatunAxom,” uploading a short video of students raising slogans and demanding the VC’s resignation.
The post quickly went viral across Assam’s digital space, turning the university’s unrest into a statewide talking point.
Reiterating his criticism a day earlier, Gogoi expressed concern over what he termed the government’s insensitive approach to the crisis. “It is disappointing to see the manner in which Tezpur University is being tackled by the government. At the same time, I am proud of the manner in which the students and faculty have conducted themselves. Firm, unbending and dignified. This is the #kanchanjunga spirit of Assam,” he posted on Saturday.
Even after the appointment of senior professor Dhruba Kumar Bhattacharyya as Acting Vice Chancellor, student organisations have stated they will continue to press for a complete overhaul of the administrative system that triggered the unrest.
Protesters insist that removing the outgoing VC alone does not address their broader grievances.
One senior research scholar said, “Students want an environment of fairness and dignity. The administration must listen.”
Observers note that Gogoi’s framing of the agitation as part of Assam’s youth-driven political consciousness has resonated deeply, especially with references to late singer Zubeen Garg, a cultural icon among the state’s youth.
By referencing the spirit of #NatunAxom, Gogoi noted the involvement of Assam’s younger generation in raising concerns about institutional and governance issues.
The central government and university authorities have not issued fresh statements.
Students say their agitation will continue until promised “structural changes” are implemented.
Meanwhile, handwritten minutes from a recent meeting confirmed a time-bound inquiry into Vice Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh.