New Delhi, April 16, 2025 – A growing controversy at Delhi University’s Lakshmibai College took a dramatic turn on Tuesday when Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) president Ronak Khatri smeared cow dung on the walls of Principal Pratyush Vatsala’s office. The protest was staged in retaliation to the principal’s recent decision to apply a cow dung coating in classrooms as part of a sustainability research project — a move that sparked widespread outrage after a video of it went viral.
The conflict erupted after a video circulated online showing Principal Vatsala overseeing the application of cow dung on classroom walls. She later stated that the act was part of a faculty-led research initiative to explore indigenous cooling techniques amid rising summer temperatures in Delhi. However, student leaders argued that no consent was taken from students whose classrooms were involved. “No consent was taken from students for such an initiative. If you want to do research, do it at your home,” said Khatri during the protest.
A video of Tuesday’s incident shows Khatri and a group of students entering the principal’s office, confronting faculty, and applying cow dung on the office walls to “extend the same cooling treatment” given to classrooms. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Ronak Khatri sarcastically reiterated his criticism of the principal’s decision. “We have full faith that madam will now get the AC removed from her room and hand it over to students, and run the college in this modern and natural cool environment smeared with cow dung,” he posted.
Khatri, representing DUSU, further called on the Delhi University administration to take action against the college administration for proceeding with the project without proper approvals or consultations. Principal Vatsala responded to the growing backlash by defending her decision. Speaking to PTI, she said the experiment was still “under process” and rooted in scientific research. “It is under process. I will be able to share details of the full research after a week,” Vatsala stated, adding that her actions were being “misinterpreted without context.” She also emphasized that “there’s no harm in touching natural mud,” framing the initiative as an eco-friendly alternative to high-cost air conditioning in academic settings.
Internal college communications reveal that the principal had shared the decision in a faculty WhatsApp group, noting that the coating was being applied to classrooms in C Block. She wrote: “Those who have classes here will soon get these rooms in a new look. Efforts are being made to make your teaching experience pleasant.” The college administration has yet to release a public statement addressing Tuesday’s protest.
As of Wednesday morning, Delhi University had not issued an official response to the protest or clarified its stance on the cow dung experiment. However, DU sources confirmed the project was initially described as a faculty-initiated pilot to study cost-effective cooling solutions. University insiders acknowledged that while research into sustainable infrastructure is encouraged, student consent and safety protocols must be strictly followed.
The controversy has reignited debates over the use of traditional Indian methods in modern education spaces. While clay and cow dung have historically been used in rural buildings for insulation, critics argue that imposing such methods in urban classrooms without proper consultation crosses ethical boundaries. Environmentalists and scientists remain divided: some support the exploration of low-cost, natural cooling, especially in the face of climate change, while others caution that bio-organic materials require rigorous vetting, especially in institutional spaces with hygiene concerns.
The Lakshmibai College incident highlights the need for clear communication, administrative transparency, and consent in implementing experimental initiatives on campus. While the idea behind the project may have been rooted in research, its execution has led to a campus-wide uproar, culminating in a protest that made national headlines. As both sides stand firm, attention now turns to the Delhi University administration, which is expected to review the incident and issue guidelines for future faculty-led projects that directly affect students.
In a related statement, Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh remarked that if the experiment was indeed scientific, it should have been conducted in a designated or controlled area first, rather than in a space regularly used by students. “A scientific experiment should have been done privately. Why do it publicly? Try it at your home or in a controlled environment and observe the results,” Singh said.
The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) condemned the principal’s actions, with Varun Choudhary, the NSUI national president, stating that the principal was appointed for academic duties, not to act as an RSS foot soldier. “Her actions are a clear attempt to distract from real student issues - like scholarships, infrastructure, and quality education,” Choudhary said.
As the dust settles on this unusual protest, the incident at Lakshmibai College serves as a critical reminder of the importance of student involvement in decisions that affect their educational environment. The ongoing dialogue surrounding sustainability, consent, and the role of traditional practices in modern education continues to unfold, with students and faculty alike seeking a resolution that respects both innovation and the rights of the student body.
