CHAPTER VI
KAMAL’S CAMPUS- A STUDY IN THEME AND FORM
Introduction: The novel Campus by K.L. Kamal was published in the year 2002. The
author Prof. K.L. Kamal is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. He
has also been the member of Rajasthan Public Service Commission Board, Rajasthan.
The writer’s two other important novels are Karmayogi and The Great Betrayal. He has
also been awarded with National Unity Award, The Indira Gandhi Sadbhavan Award and
the Bharat Bandhu Award.
The novel Campus portrays in great detail the predicament of a Vice-Chancellor.
His perception of the responsibility and the functioning of the Universities in the present
times are described. It stands distinct from all the selected novels as it presents neither the
lives of students nor that of the lecturers elaborately but the life of the Vice-chancellor,
his difficulties and challenges. This part of the chapter is followed by Part II- The Plot.
Then Part III- Campus- A Study of Theme, Part IV- A Study of Form and Part VConclusion.
The Plot: The plot of the novel is woven around Chandrakant, the Vice-Chancellor.
Chandrakant’s ambition is to upgrade his university to the level of a National University,
to raise the level of higher education and to create a research-conducive atmosphere in
the university.
He is disheartened by the gheraos, strikes, slogan shouting, burning of his effigies.
He is even threatened by the Syndicate members to resign from the post and pressurized
by a politician to stray from the correct procedures to favor his candidate.
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The effect of all this is seen on Chandrakant’s health. But he thinks it cowardly to
resign from the post. He gains fortitude from great sayings. His confidence is reinstated
by a student, Padmini. He continues to give his best, and finally after two years of his
term, even people who were against him understand his genuine concern and far-sighted
decisions and approve of him.
Theme in Campus -A Study: True to its title, the novel Campus completely deals with
the happenings in the campus of a university. But here, a very different perspective is
given – that of a Vice-Chancellor. The novel provides an insight into the problems and
agitations faced by the person who becomes the Vice Chancellor – the post which is
considered very comfortable by many. But in actuality it is a crown of thorns.
The novel is realistic as it is similar to the happenings in a university of the
present day. Chandrakant, who had headed the Political Science department in the biggest
and one of the oldest universities in the country, becomes the Vice-Chancellor of the very
university in which he worked. His authority is taken with a grain of salt by some of the
inmates of the campus- mainly the staff. As Chandrakant himself says about the faculty,
“They can accept an IAS officer or an ex-army official as their Vice-Chancellor, but not
so one from among their fraternity.” 1
Unlike the campus novels in general which are student-centered or facultyoriented, this novel delineates the inner turmoil as well as the outer strife of the ViceChancellor. Thus the theme of the novel is taken as the predicament of a ViceChancellor. Apart from this the present scenario in an Indian University campus is also
provided.
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Chandrakant is an idealistic person who wishes to model his university on high
standards. All his moves towards progress are hindered by the people in the campus who
are against him. He is mainly opposed by two persons – Roopchand and Pramod Kumar
who are faculty members. These are the teachers who are more of trade union leaders and
would stoop to any extent for self-aggrandizement.
They are opportunists and given to consumerism, working with
destructive ideas. ….……………. averse to taking classes but
not to the gains and prerogatives their position entailed. ……
They are the symbols of moral deterioration and social
disintegration of an institution.2
They have inflated egos and their one-point agenda is ousting Chandrakant from
the post of Vice-Chancellor. To achieve this, they even instigate the students against the
Vice-Chancellor. To quote their lines during a demonstration of students against the VC“Without a few doors and windows broken, the V.C. will pay you no heed, he is a
stubborn kind of a man. On the surface he appears to be sweet, but it’s all poison inside!”
3
They even suggest slogans to the students.
The students stood shouting at the top of their voices:
“VC come out. Come out.”
Some students whispered: “Why don’t you use the slogans
suggested by Pramod Kumar?”
The slogans started changing: “V.C. step down. We will
not tolerate such dictatorship! Not at all! Not at all!”4
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This shows how some students are prompted against the V.C. by the ill-minded
teachers. They bring in Politics in the temple of learning. About these kinds of people,
Chandrakant’s opinion is –
In any institution or society, where there is a dearth of work
culture and moral values, the likes of them naturally gain
ascendancy……..Their increasing numbers is also an indication
of the fact that even in the temples of learning, of the Goddess
Saraswati, the demons of consumerism are gaining sway and
tarnishing the sacred image.5
One of the striking features in the novel is the repeated slogan shouting and the
gheraos by students, teachers and even the non-teaching staff. The adhoc teachers
appointed through Court orders try to press the V.C. through a gherao, to regularize their
jobs. Their behavior then is so uncivil that the V.C. considers it to be worse than that of
the students. Some permanent teachers also join them in support as they need the votes of
the temporary teachers in the approaching elections.
This shows how selfish today’s people even in the field of education are. They
help others only if there is something good done to them in return. The opportunism of
these people is proved again and again in the instances portrayed. Some of them have
been discussed here. Chandrakant realizes that “Whomsoever he came in contact with
pretended to be his well-wisher but within a few minutes it would be clear that the other
had some favour to ask and that too at the cost of the third person”.6
When the selection process for professorship is to begin, the candidates try to
move closer to the V.C. and send indications of their strong faith in him. Chandrakant is
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surprised as some of these very people had never missed any opportunity to hit back at
him at the slightest pretext. When one of the Syndicate members had issued a notice that
he was going to bring a no confidence motion against Chandrakant and had asked a
meeting to be convened, Sandeep Gupta who had been made a Syndicate member by
Chandrakant himself, had signed it. And also Basant Kumar, whom Chandrakant had
made Principal of a college, attacked him. Chandrakant feels, “All principles fail to
justify the actions of these men. They grow annoyed if a favor or two is not granted to
them even though a good ninety percent of their demands are always met”.7
Another reason for such an action on their part may be that the Syndicate member
who was for the no confidence motion was supposedly the Education Minister’s man and
so they were driven by their opportunism to get things done by him through political
influence.
Chandrakant is struck in an adverse situation where some of the students, faculty
and even the higher authorities in the government blame him. The students of ABVP and
NSUI accuse Chandrakant of belonging to the other political party. This conversation
between groups of students shows how politics has become a part of even an educational
institution.
“You know this VC is playing a double game. He pretends to
belong to the Congress Party, but in reality he is a BJP man!”
……………………………………
An instant repartee came from the NSUI camp: “Don’t forget,
it is our rule, the government is ours. The V.C. has been
appointed by a Congress government. He will have to follow our
dictates or…”
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The ABVP group counter-argued loudly: “Remember, the
government does not appoint a V.C., it is the Governor who
does it, and the Governor in turn is appointed by the Central
Government. And, there, the BJP is heading the country.”8
They totally forget and are reminded by the onlookers that the university is an
autonomous body and one should not bring any political party in its working.
As mentioned above, there are two separate groups among the students. Likewise
the faculty members are also divided into two – the ones who are the elected
representatives of teachers and the others who are led by Pramod Kumar and Roopchand.
Apart from these, the non-teaching staff also has their own group.
All of these groups have their own charter of demands. As the V.C. says,
“Whoever comes here, comes with a charter of demands, it seems that the university
machinery has become merely a place to fight for rights not to do one’s duty”.9The nonteaching staff demands increase in the overtime allowance, immediate promotion,
arrangement for their security against students on strike, LTC at par with the Central
Government employees. One group of teachers demands that he should initiate the CAS
immediately, pay the arrears which are due, increase the remuneration for exam work in
proportion to the increased fees, reinstate the suspended teachers, etc. Another group of
teachers headed by Pramod Kumar and Roopchand demand that the present union should
be dissolved till the next elections are held.
The students demand the withdrawal of the proposal of fee-increase, exemption of
students from 75% compulsory attendance, maintenance of teachers’ attendance register,
return of the increased fees, removal of computer class as there was no definite syllabus,
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removal of a certain Principal who misbehaved with almost everyone. In addition to
these, there are demands by the hostilities and the women students also. Reimbursement
of the increased fee, change of hostel warden, arrangement for proper sanitation,
electricity and water supply etc. in the hostel are the demands of the hostilities. On the
other hand, the women students complain about their being enclosed at 8 o’clock in the
hostel and demand freedom.
All these people even go to the extent of threatening the Vice-Chancellor on what
they would do if he fails to fulfill their demands. The non-teaching staff announces that if
their demands are not met, they would proceed on an indefinite strike and the
examination results would be delayed to a great extent.
Just like the students, the groups of faculty members accuse Chandrakant of
working under the pressure of the other groups. They threateningly sayWe are the chosen representatives of the teachers’ community
and they are with us on this matter. We will not tolerate that you
work according to the wishes of those handful of people who do
not have the backing of the teachers. If our demands are not
met within seven days we will boycott the classes and begin a
non-cooperation movement.10
The other group of faculty says, “They belong to the BJP and RSS but we have a
Congress government which has appointed you the Vice Chancellor. We have just met
the Education Minister; he too is extremely annoyed with you. We will not let you turn
the university into a BJP camp.”11
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The behavior of the students is even worse. The Students’ Union President
audaciously enters the VC’s chamber along with some of his associates. He considers his
position a very high one. Even in front of the VC none of them have even an iota of
politeness, courtesy or patience on their faces. They want to demonstrate their power.
They bang the VC’s table three times during their meeting with him. The President saysThe Union President’s post is a very high one, second only to
the Vice-Chancellor’s…….. I want my work done till tomorrow,
mind you, or it will not be good for you! You will have to forget
this chair. Only he who abides by the President’s wishes can
keep his chair intact.12
Irrespective of whether they are students, teachers, non-teaching staff or
hostilities, all directly come to the V.C. in groups with their complaints and demands.
Gheraos and strikes become almost part of the V.C.’s life. Every day he faces at least two
to three demonstrations. Chandrakant says that “One group had demands related to the
Controller of Exams and the other with the chief warden. They had no reason to come to
him, but all officers advise them to meet the V.C. for even small demands in order to
relieve themselves of the trouble of taking a decision.”13
The V.C. is torn among all these groups. Chandrakant very well knows that “If
the administrator listens to the Unions, he would be violating the MOU – the
understanding signed with the government. The government would then stop the block
grant and it would be difficult for the university to pay the salaries of its employees”. 14
His predicament is described in the following words- “….he had been pushed into such
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deep waters whose banks he knew not and neither their depth; that he was being buffeted
whither the winds blew, unable to swim”.15
To rectify all these problems, he had to work continuously all day long. Even after
working for 15 hours a day he would find still more work left over. Even after putting in
a lot of effort, he is devoid of the mental peace and inner happiness deserved by a hard
worker. “Every morning Chandrakant begins with a resolution to do something new,
something positive, but before the evening descends, new cactus-like problems come and
pose themselves before him.”16
This is just one facet of Chandrakant’s difficulty. The other facet is that he is
harried by many important persons in authority. He is pressurized by one of the
politicians to go out of the way to favour a person who belonged to his own caste. When
Chandrakant denies the help, he is chided badly by him. He spent all the day
….doing a tight-rope walking, trying to ease out the
dissatisfactions of the students, staff and teachers… Not only
this, he had to look to other fronts as well and effect a concord
between them- the politicians and the political party, the
government, especially the Education Minister, the media and the
pressure groups of the students, teachers and other employees.
One poor person and hundreds of pressures! 17
He manages to put up with all these problems and tries to cope with them, but the
adverse criticism about him in the newspapers disheartens him. He is devoid of a
personal life as, even if he moves with his friends it becomes news. Chandrakant’s
condition is described in these words-
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…..holiday or no holiday, his days were bound to be disturbed.
Everyone, the President, the Prime Minister, the Governors,
the Chief Ministers all go on holidays, go with their families to
….…..enchanting tourist locations except for the ViceChancellor, he has no holidays. Others are accompanied by
friends, but it is not talked of, but if anyone visits the V.C., it
becomes the gossip of the day. Has the V.C. no life of his
own, no right to friends?.......18
He is so badly engrossed in his exhausting duty that he neither gets sufficient time
to spend with his family members, nor to enjoy the enchanting beauty of nature in his
surroundings. He also grieves on the inadequacy of time for his scholastic pursuits like
reading books or writing.
No sooner does he assume the position of VC, than the staff pressurizes him to
complete the work related to them which the earlier V.C. had kept pending. They are not
bothered to give him sufficient time to understand the status of the activities going on in
the university. One of the Syndicate members Shaitan Singh tries to force him to resign
from the post of V.C. He threatens Chandrakant that he was bringing a no confidence
motion against him.
I have already got the signatures of eight other members and
have spoken to many important dignitaries. The Education
Minister is also angry with you, and neither is the Chief
Minister happy. The Governor too will not support you. There
is no alternative except to step down from your Vice-
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Chancellorship. I advise you to resign before the next Syndicate
meeting or you will have to face dire consequences.19
Lost in these speculations, “…..sometimes elated, sometimes depressed,
Chandrakant strolled in the lawns of the V.C. lodge oscillating between hope and
despair”.20 He tells his wife Ratna how his post was in danger, how the MLAs belonging
to the ruling party had signed against him, how nearly half of the Syndicate members
wanted to pass a no confidence motion against him. He understands that it is the
enormous tension the post entails which usually caused V.C.s’ death in the office or their
becoming victims of chronic illness. And those remained healthy, were those who had
not completed the term of three years and had left in the midst. Chandrakant too has
developed diabetics and there was increase in his blood pressure since his taking up this
post. When he had assumed the power,
He had brought with him some visions that he would change the
direction of the winds that blew over the university….. The
university dignity became his dignity. A new dream flowered
within him, to upgrade this institution to the status of a National
University, to raise the level of higher education, give it a
research-conducive atmosphere, a disciplined character. But
within a month he had realized that this was a crown of thorns,
perhaps not a crown at all, only thorns”.21
“His perseverance and steadfastness oscillates and vacillates when perpetually
questioned and maligned……”
22
But he thought it cowardly to resign from the post. He
was neither an escapist nor a coward to leave the post. Though he is greatly tormented by
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the goings-on in the campus, he regains strength and integrity from the scriptures. He
feels that he is in the war field like Arjuna, fighting for Dharma or righteousness. But he
is an Arjuna without Lord Krishna to strengthen him. However later he realizes that
though he does not have Krishna beside him, he can still derive strength and support from
his preaching. After all that is the purpose of Bhagavad Gita. He recites some shlokas
from Bhagavad Gita to himself- “Oh Arjun, don’t be beset with ideas of improwess. This
does not behove you. Caste aside the weakness of a petty mind and prepare for war!”23
He is deeply inspired by Lord Krishna’s words. “If you do not go forward in this war of
duty, you would lose not only your religion and your glory but be steeped in sin”.
24
Along with this, his profound sense of duty does not allow him to crumble down. He
feels that the university has the most significant role to play in the development of the
society.
The society….expects the university to make such discoveries
that will benefit those struggling between life and death, to bring
brightness in the lives of those who have seen only darkness, who
have never felt the freshness of spring and have only seen
the wan woods of autumn.25
With his strong will power, steadfastness, positive thinking, he struggles against
the appalling whirlwind of accusations, maligning and other adversities, prepares himself
to face the challenges and still do his best. One more significant factor is that, not
everybody was against him. Only a minority was opposed to him governed by some
personal and selfish motives. In fact a large majority of students, teachers and office staff
were with him but they lacked integration to come together and express their support to
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the V.C. The author points out to the need of unity among the scrupulous people in
today’s world. It is Padmini, a student who makes him realize this fact and motivates him
through her compliment that he was the first V.C. to show considerable interest in
students’ welfare.
Thus Chandrakant completes two years of his tenure. It takes two long years for
the people to understand his worth. They realize the principles and far-sighted decisions
behind his efficient working; his honesty and his dedication. Chandrakant begins to see
signs of stability around him. Many of the negativity-oriented faculty members, including
Roopchand gradually switch over to Chandrakant’s side.
Chandrakant takes strong measures to streamline the crumbling internal structure
of the institution. The first thing that Chandrakant does after gaining stability in the
university is to upgrade the standard of education.
He is shaken to the core after participating in the Vice Chancellors’ Conference
abroad. Here a greater emphasis was laid on the role played by universities in preparing
the students to face the challenges of the new millennium. Immediately after returning
from the conference, Chandrakant announces new vocational courses for the students. At
this point he is made to face the challenge thrown by the faculty. The faculty was inclined
to maintain a status quo. They shunned any additional responsibility and hence resisted
all sorts of changes.
The V.C. feels hurt for, these changes in the syllabi were not brought in by the
faculty earlier, despite enormous development in those subjects. And on the other hand,
these are resisted by the faculty when they are introduced. The faculty was not bothered
even when these syllabi were being laughed at for their parochial and insular nature.
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Luckily for Chandrakant, during that time he had been enabled with greater power
under the University Act. Under this Act, he could give admission to students, could
make anyone a professor and could travel abroad. On the one hand the Act made him
“….a nominated dictator so that he could take strong decisions in the interest of the
university”.26 On the other hand, the selection process for professorship was round the
corner and so the eligible candidates thought it wise to remain calm and support him.
Many others even try to come closer to him in order to gain professorship.
He introduces new courses in keeping with the times and uses his powers to have
them approved in the Academic Council. He observes that the faculty spent “…the time
they gained from not taking classes in politicking or buttering politicians or in pursuing
their side-business”.27 So he decides to implement compulsory attendance for the teachers
as well which was being demanded by the Students’ Union. This is opposed by the
faculty along with his plan of making a herbal garden. He decides to bring these in,
strategically. His aim of declaring the results soon, was accomplished but at the cost of
overtime by the staff. And this too was subjected to a lot of criticism. Although he is able
to fulfill some of the demands, he still remains in a pickle in the matter of others.
Chandrakant realizes that there was an urgent need to revive the work ethics of
the people in the campus. He decides to hold the Convocation Ceremony after many long
years in the university. He thinks of the possible difficulties he might face in that state of
affairs. It was difficult to “get the degrees prepared without paying overtime to the
employees”.28 Both the Registrar and the Finance Officer were government employees
and could be transferred at anytime. Chandrakant thinks,
Why should the University Officers and employees listen to him?
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They know that no one can harm them, they cannot be
transferred and no confidential report is sent about their work.
Moreover, they have a powerful union backing them and the
union frequently threatens that the employees would go on a
strike or follow a work-to-rule procedure.29
This might have proved a real problem for the V.C. Chandrakant considers himself
fortunate as nothing of this sort happens with him. Although “…..there was always the
threat of a lurking storm and of course a few strong winds blew practically every day, but
not of the velocity to uproot trees. It is another matter that these winds severed quite a
few branches and unleafed others”.30
Chandrakant finds the staff of the college “….more concerned about their vested
interests- …..not bothered about the overall progress of the university”.31 But he succeeds
in making them realize the importance of university education in the development of the
country; and the need for strong work ethics among them. Prof. Mehta’s words to
Chandrakant prove this point – “Sir, you are right. That higher education which cannot
relate itself to the reconstruction of society, is really meaningless”.32
It is quite interesting to note that Chandrakant too is benefitted in turn by the
faculty members. Roopchand and Dwivedi discuss with Chandrakant and help him to
come out of his expectation of a utopian world and get reconciled with the realistic
situations. Dwivedi asks him obvious and rhetorical questionsIs the university culture not affected by these materialistic and
destructive forces? Are the inmates of the university not a
part of this very society?......... When those who are the law
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makers and law keepers are themselves the law breakers, who
can be the role model for the youth of today? When such is the
state of affairs- general decadence- why should we have
expectations from the universities alone?33
Dwivedi asserts his argurmentMr. Vice-Chancellor, you are envisioning a utopia! How can
the university remain unaffected by what is happening in the
country? I can even then, say with confidence that the
truthfulness, dedication and integrity found in university is
nowhere else to be found.34
After participating in this fruitful discussion with Roopchand and Dwivedi,
Chandrakant comes to terms with the real-life scenario of the present times. All the three
come to a general assent. Concluding the discussion Chandrakant says, “What you have
pointed out is very useful. I too must be a realist. But still I feel that teachers and students
should nourish some ideals, this will bring about some change in the society’s outlook”. 35
He ultimately decides upon doing what is possible from his side for the betterment of the
university as well as the society and nation at large.
Form in Campus -A Study:
Structure: The novel Campus has been divided into two parts, namely- ‘Predicaments of
a Vice-Chancellor’ and ‘Soaring High’. In the first part, the difficulties of a ViceChancellor have been pictured whereas in the second, the protagonist’s gaining ground in
the campus as the V.C. and his progress is portrayed. There is no chapterisation in these
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parts. In the first part, the change in the episode or introduction of another character is
marked by a larger gap between those two respective paragraphs.
The novel is in the third person omniscient narration and is marked by linear
progression. It begins when Chandrakant has newly assumed the post of V.C. The events
are traced sequentially, till he establishes himself in the campus and gains everybody’s
confidence as the V.C. and this happens towards the end of two years of his tenure. The
narrative begins with the moon’s conversation with Chandrakant. More than conversing,
it interrogates him about his satisfaction with the post of V.C. These are in fact the
questions asked by himself to his own inner self. The end of the novel is also marked by
the moon’s conversation with Chandrakant. Thus the novel can be considered circular in
form.
The author has used the techniques of stream of consciousness, introspection and
internal monologue in the narrative. In the major part of the novel the protagonist
engages in conversation with his inner self. One can also notice a hoard of quotations and
many allusions used. As Prof. Kamal himself writes that the novel is “Written in the
stream of consciousness, psychological narrative style, tinctured with enlivening slices of
interior and exterior dialogue, and a fair sprinkling of quotes and allusions….”36
There are various forms of writing included in the novel. Some of these aredream narration, slogans, parts of poems, speech, etc. along with quotations and
allusions. Chandrakant is so troubled by the tussles in the campus that he often dreams of
those disturbing situations. One such dream is narrated in the very beginning of the novel.
In fact some important characters like Roopchand and Pramod Kumar are introduced to
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the readers in this dream. The situation in the campus at that period of time is depicted in
the dream. Thus the dream narration has been utilized very effectively.
The demonstrations and slogan shouting form an integral part of the novel. About
ten demonstrations against the V.C. have been depicted which are spread over throughout
the novel. An example of the slogan shouting is- “Down with the V.C.! Whatever be the
difficulty, our demands must be met with! Anyone who opposes us, goes down, we’ll see
him out!” 37 The list of their demands also appears in the novelStop the politicizing of the university;
Not to stop the students from appearing in the examination
because of shortage of attendance;
Internal evaluation should be 50% of the total marks;
There must be provision for bonus marks:
There is a lot of corruption prevailing in the Secrecy
Department therefore the names of the paper setter and
examiner must be published…..”38
Parts of some poems have also been taken. One of them is from Robert Frost’s
‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’The woods are lovely dark and deep
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.39
Roopchand also quotes lines from a poemOh winds,
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You are known to uproot trees,
But, can you
Bees from nectar sever? 40
As mentioned earlier, quotations have been enormously used in the narrative. The
readers are also provided with the names of those particular books and authors. For
instance- Acharya Mahapragya’s lines from his book Learn to change Your way of
Thinking- “Thoughts, emotions and the mind form a united government. If you want to
change your thinking it means changing your emotions. Negative emotions will lead to
negative thoughts and vice versa. So one must pay attention to the origin of thoughts”.41
From Durgadas, an eminent journalist’s epoch-making book From Curzon to Nehru and
After- “Our ancestors had taught us not to meddle with politics while conducting our
business, but if our business needs it, then we should not hesitate to buy out a king as
well”.42
Apart from these, one can find allusions also in the novel. Allusion to
Mahabharatha is found in the words- “Like Draupadi’s unending mantle, the teasing
problems seemed to vex him endlessly. Draupadi had Krishna come to her rescue…..”43
In Mrs. Ratna’s advice to her husband Chandrakant, she alludes to Ramayana when she
refers to the episode of the squirrel’s help.
….when Rama was building a bridge to cross over to Lanka,
even a non-descript squirrel contributed its share in the great
deed. She would dip into the water, then roll on the sand and
shake the sand onto the bridge. Rama had then patted her on the
back and, as the popular saying goes, its Rama’s finger marks on
her fur coat even now.44
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Chandrakant gives a speech at the Annual Function of a big college. This speech
has also been included in the novel. Thus confirming to standards of modern novels,
Campus also contains many different forms in accordance with its requirement.
Diction: It is quite interesting to note that Prof. K.L. Kamal has made stylistic
experimentation in language. Words like ‘politiking’ have been used, which the author
has derived through modification. ‘Politiking’ is derived from the noun ‘Politics’ which
the author has modified as a verb. It is clear that the expression ‘taking law and order in
one’s own hands’45is a phrase translated to English from Hindi-‘Kanoon ko haath mein
lena’.
One very conspicuous factor is the frequent use of questions at length. To quote a
few examples- “After all, how much pressure can the Vice Chancellor take? He too needs
time to work, a man’s mind asks for rest? What sort of democracy is this? What kind of
indiscipline breeds here?” 46 “Will universities lend a helping hand in this transformation
or not? If they do not, will they be able to justify their existence at all? Do universities
have nothing to do with social institutions? If not, who will credit them with
cognizance.”47 These kinds of interrogative sentences have been used when the
protagonist Chandrakant is engaged in internal monologue.
The author has incorporated considerable number of Indian words along with a
few foreign words in the novel. The Sanskrit words used are- Dharma, shalok (sic),
karmayoga, anekant, ahimsa, Brahma, guru, vasudeva kutumbakam, satchit anand, etc.
Gherao, baba, karela, methi, kurta pyjama are the Hindi words used. The foreign words
include- status quo, per se, lacunae, vis-à-vis, bonhomie, etc. The first three are Latin
words and the last two are taken from French. A couple of idioms have also been used
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relevantly. These are- Axe to grind, nip in the bud, face the music, a ray of hope, leaps
and bounds, dance to their tune, etc.
One unique factor of the novel which is found in no other novel out of those
selected for the study is that the shlokas or verses from Bhagavad Gita are given in Hindi
script. These quotes are followed by the translated English versions.
Imagery and satire have also been made use of by the author. He parallels the
protagonist’s failure to the darkness and his goals to light in the following beautiful and
meaningful description. “…..he tries again and again to surface out of the enveloping
darkness, holding on to that ray of light which will lead him to his desired destination.
Still, the closer he gets to it, the further do the avowed goals recede, escaping his hold on
them.”
48
The imagery of thorns is repeatedly used in the novel which symbolizes
difficulties, as in ‘crown of thorns.’49
The author humorously as well as satirically describes that “Some teachers had
become Marxists in the sense that they had started believing in a ‘classless’ society” 50 in
the sense that they had stopped engaging classes for the students as they had stopped
believing in classes. There is a pun on the word ‘class’ which means- class related to
learning and also the class related to social status. Here the author subtly criticizes the
unethical behavior of the faculty.
The kind of language used in the novel displays the exceptional standard of
learning and care in the use of language. Though the author is not an English professor,
his level of proficiency in the English language is outstanding. Prof. K.L. Kamal is
commendable for this and for his endeavor of stylistic experimentation in the language.
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Characterization: Chandrakant comes from a humble family. His father had dreamt to
see him just as a school teacher in his home town. He did not even have enough warm
clothes to fight the cold. His cheap bicycle bought from a junk house used to make him
walk miles together as it would not ride well. He had grown up listening to taunts and
bearing mental torture as he lived a servant-like life at a feudal lord’s place, to enable him
to study. He tutored the children of the rich to pay his fees. This kind of a life led by him
and the scriptures which he is accustomed to read, together mould him into a simple, just,
honest and down-to-earth person. He even feels that his becoming the V.C. is influenced
by divine grace. “Perhaps it had been the grace of some supernatural power that had
brought him so far.”51
He becomes “….a good teacher, a fine orator and a conscientious administrator”.
52
He is incapable of deceit or strife with anyone. He wakes up at four or four thirty
every morning. He feels that reading a few shaloks, after returning from his morning
walk gives him enough energy for the whole day. Chandrakant takes up the V.C.’s
“….challenging assignment with the avowed aim of instilling a work culture and work
ethics in order to rejuvenate the teaching and learning in his university …. constantly
faced with tensions and anxieties that begin to undermine and erode his confidence.”53
One can observe that though every group in the campus from students to the
teaching staff come to him agitated and with their charter of demands, he listens to
everyone patiently and promises to help them as much as possible. Though at times he is
threatened, he never loses his temper or gives any false assurances. He abides by
whatever he promises and promises whatever is possible for him to do. He deals with the
students with sympathy, tact and intelligence.
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Almost all the students agree that they come to him extremely
agitated, gripped with uncontrollable anger, but they go back
pacified and calmed, even though not all their demands have
been agreed to. They believe that the Vice-Chancellor has the
capacity to tender to them sugar-coated pills that they
unflinchingly accept.54
Even when Shaitan Singh, one of the Syndicate members threatens him,
Chandrakant neither retaliates nor does he assert himself. He never thinks of setting of
scores or revenge and just wonders at those who have failed to be faithful to him. He just
contemplates the strange human behavior.
At times of distress, he is devastated by inner as well as outer strife. He
experiences sleepless nights when he is tormented by the condition of the campus. But
never lets anybody know it. He just turns to the scriptures for help. He gets inspired by
shlokas like- “Happiness and sorrow, gain and loss, victory and defeat are but the same.
Perform thy duty. Stand up valiantly to fight for a noble cause”.
55
Such shlokas, his
strong sense of duty, words of his supporter and student Padmini help him regain his
strength and determination.
Chandrakant’s fortitude and steadfastness is depicted in various instances. He is
tormented day and night about the integrity and development of his university. Ironically
he is accused in the newspapers as an inefficient V.C. But his determination to improve
the campus is so strong that every adversary turns his supporter at the end of two years
of his tenure. He wins people’s confidence with the sheer dint of hard work and
truthfulness. Even the newspapers which had criticized him, begin praising him.
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“……after the Chief Minister, he was the second to get so much publicity.” 56 He rightly
says that thorns were sown all around him. “But they had not hurt him, instead roses had
bloomed from among the thorns”. 57
He goes ahead to bring in developmental activities in the campus. These activities
and his morally upright personality prove instrumental in establishing trust for him in the
hearts of the people in campus. Padmini goes to the extent of giving up her college in
order to support him, when the college turns an influence against Chandrakant. This is the
kind of impact which a V.C. is able to make even on the minds of the students.
Towards the end of the novel, one can observe that, on the one hand Chandrakant
is satisfied for what he has been able to do and even his former opponents appreciate that.
On the other, he is determined to do whatever is possible for him to do. The author has
been quite successful in portraying a mature and dignified character like Chandrakant
with all his subtle intricacies.
Conclusion: A totally different perspective of the activities in the campus is presented
here. As the author himself is a V.C., he has delineated a realistic picture of the
predicaments of a V.C. There is also an interesting intermingling of present deterioration
and future aspiration and vision.
The present scenario in the campus is explained. The ethical corruption which the
faculty is involved in is appalling. The author says that some of them were not at all
worthy of becoming teachers, but unfortunately had gone to the extent of becoming
readers and professors. They had got involved in various malpractices like forging
certificates, mutilating official records, not engaging classes, plagiarizing from published
work for their own research etc. and many had left academic pursuits long ago. The
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degrading level to which jealousy can take teachers to is brought out in an incident
where, out of jealousy, his own friend had made Chandrakant miss a golden chance,
when he was in America.
A huge contrast between the teachers of the present age and the teachers in the
past is recorded here. The atmosphere in the past was conducive to studies as there were
no strikes or gheraos. The facilities, pay scales, opportunities for betterment were
minimal for the teachers. Still they were satisfied and performed their duties with utmost
care and selflessness.
The author speaks of the two main functions of a university. One is to enable a
person to make a respectable living and secondly, make him attain contentment and
happiness. He also points out that the second function remains unaddressed by most of
the universities. The condition of education is described as purposeless, pathetic, and cut
off from the problems of society. It only inculcates egoism and self esteem in the youth
of today. He insists on the point that the youth should understand the close relation
between higher education and national progress. The educated youth should strive to
solve the problems of the world and enable mankind to lead a comfortable life.
Chandrakant understands the other facet of the youth of today when he listens to
Padmini speak practically. A comprehensive picture of the country, campus and the youth
is given by her. She points out the reason for the problem with the youth. According to
her, the youth of today is also idealistic, hard-working and ambitious, but it experiences a
deep sense of despair when the whole environment is filled with rampant corruption,
bribery, social injustice and total disregard for talent and merit. Thus their dissatisfactions
and frustrations take the form of strikes, rallies, physical violence, etc.
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The analytical powers of the students can be observed when they hold mirror up
to the corrupt ways of the faculty. They directly criticize the teachers for getting involved
in political conspiracies, neglecting their duty of teaching, concentrating only on their
salaries, etc. They very-well understand that they are instigated and used by teachers as
pawns for selfish motives.
Chandrakant is astonished at their awareness, energy and analytical powers. He finally
realizes that the country is safe in the hands of such dynamic youth, and that his worry
about them is unnecessary. He begins to feel strongly that the new generation was more
aware and wiser than the youth of yesterday.
One can find an ideal V.C. in the character of Chandrakant. He shows how one
can derive inspiration from the dictates of great men and scriptures at any point of
distress in one’s life. He shows how one needs to have unflinching faith in God and
continue to do one’s duty without fail and how success comes to such a person.
It is unique that he feels bad when he fails to find time to read and write for selfdevelopment amidst his administrative work. Even at that age and position he tries to
improve himself by inculcating positive thinking after reading Acharya Mahapragya’s
Learn to change Your way of Thinking.
The novel gives a detailed picture of not only the predicaments, difficulties,
dilemmas, tribulations of the V.C. but also the consistent way to overcome them.
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Notes
1
K.L.Kamal, Campus: A Novel (Jaipur: University Book House, 2002) 51
2
Kamal, 7-8
3
Kamal, 22
4
Kamal, 21
5
Kamal, 7-8
6
Kamal, 16
7
Kamal, 29
8
Kamal, 4-5
9
Kamal, 28
10
Kamal, 24
11
Kamal, 25
12
Kamal, 14
13
Kamal, 46
14
Kamal, 61
15
Kamal, 16
16
Kamal, 16
17
Kamal, 18
18
Kamal, 47
19
Kamal, 48
20
Kamal, 67
21
Kamal, 15-16
22
Kamal, Preface
394
23
Kamal, 55
24
Kamal, 83
25
Kamal, 68- 69
26
Kamal, 58
27
Kamal, 60
28
Kamal, 61
29
Kamal, 61
30
Kamal, 54
31
Kamal, 61
32
Kamal, 64
33
Kamal, 88
34
Kamal, 88
35
Kamal, 91
36
Kamal, Preface
37
Kamal, 20
38
Kamal, 21
39
Kamal, 19
40
Kamal, 87
41
Kamal, 52- 53
42
Kamal, 37
43
Kamal, 2
44
Kamal, 58
45
Kamal, 77
395
46
Kamal, 28- 29
47
Kamal, 71
48
Kamal, 11- 12
49
Kamal, 55
50
Kamal, 60
51
Kamal, 57
52
Kamal, 9
53
Kamal, Preface
54
Kamal, 8-9
55
Kamal, 48
56
Kamal, 57
57
Kamal, 57
396