DUSU Head Defaces College Principal's Office As Cow Dung Was Smeared On Classroom Wall For 'Cooling'

Amid an escalating row over Lakshmibai College principal Pratyush Vatsala's video of coating classroom walls with cow dung for “cooling” them, Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) president Ronak Khatri on Tuesday defaced the principal's office by doing the same.

However, there was no immediate response from the university regarding Tuesday's incident. The administration maintained that the method was part of scientific inquiry into sustainable practices amid rising temperatures in the capital.

Commenting on the development, Khatri told PTI, "No consent was taken from students for such an initiative. If you want to do research, do it at your home."

Recently, in a widely shared video in social media, the college principal was seen coating classroom walls with cow dung.

On April 13, the principal told PTI that it was part of an ongoing research to explore indigenous and sustainable cooling techniques.

"It’s not only cow dung. There are other materials as well. It’s a part of the study… We should connect with the environment. There are a few rooms above the canteen block where some classes used to be conducted. There are fans, but a proposal was given on heat stress control to try this idea,” she said.

"It is under process. I will be able to share details of the full research after a week. 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 added.

In a post on X, Khatri referenced the principal's viral video and sarcastically said that he and his supporters had gone to "help" her by plastering her office walls as well.

"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 wrote.