University library fete postponed

The University of Madras has postponed the centenary celebrations of its library, originally slated for Tuesday, to an undeclared later date. A press release on Monday attributed the postponement to “unavoidable circumstances”. The fresh date would be announced soon, it said. 

The fete had run into controversy after senior professors raised several questions on its timing. Express reported recently that the centenary celebrations were being organised six years after the library completed 100 years in 2007, with `9 lakh released as funds.   While the event was first slated as post-centenary celebrations, the invitation carried the number “100” embossed digitally on a picture of the library’s building.

When contacted, vice-chancellor G Thiruvasagam said the postponement was the result of Governor K Rosaiah, who is the Chancellor of the university, leaving town for another function. He said the celebrations would be conducted once the Governor’s office communicates the dates when Rosaiah would be available.