A video of the principal of Delhi University’s Laxmibai College, Dr. Pratyush Vatsala, seen coating the walls of a classroom with cow dung, has gone viral, setting off public debate and raising questions about scientific rationale, cleanliness, and administrative oversight.

According to Dr. Vatsala, the activity is part of a research project to explore traditional, eco-friendly cooling methods in educational spaces. The experiment is currently being conducted in porta cabins to evaluate the cooling effects of natural substances like cow dung on room temperature.

"It is under process. I will be able to share details of the full research after a week. The research is being carried out in porta cabins. I coated one of them myself because there's no harm in touching natural mud. Some people are spreading misinformation without knowing the full details," she said.

The viral video

In the widely circulated clip, the principal is seen applying cow dung on classroom walls, assisted by college staff. Interestingly, it was Vatsala herself who shared the video in the college’s teachers’ group, writing that these indigenous methods are being adopted in C Block to make classrooms more comfortable.

"Those who have classes here will soon get these rooms in a new look. Efforts are being made to make your teaching experience pleasant," she wrote in the message.

The incident has sparked mixed reactions. Some have questioned the sanitation and scientific validity of such methods in an academic environment, while others have shown curiosity about the environmental and cultural relevance of using traditional techniques in modern settings.

The principal has assured that full details of the research will be shared in a week. For now, the administration maintains that the act is not symbolic or religious, but scientifically motivated.

Laxmibai College, established in 1965 and named after the iconic freedom fighter Rani Lakshmibai, is a constituent college of the University of Delhi, primarily catering to women in northwest Delhi.

 

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