Watch: DU principal smears cow dung on classroom walls, calls it 'research'

New Delhi: The principal of Delhi University’s Laxmibai College has been caught on video coating the walls of a classroom with cow dung.

The Principal Pratyush Vatsala told PTI that the act was part of an ongoing research being undertaken by a faculty member.

She said the project is named Study of Heat Stress Control by Using Traditional Indian Knowledge.

“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.

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In the video, Vatsala is seen applying cow dung on the walls with the help of her staff.

She reportedly shared the video herself in the college’s teachers’ group, noting that indigenous methods are being adopted to cool classrooms in C Block.

“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.

Established in 1965 and named after Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, the college is located in Ashok Vihar and operates under the Delhi government.

The college comprises five blocks, with the recent initiative focused on one of them.

Lakshmibai College principal Pratyush Vatsala used cow dung on classroom walls as a traditional method to cool rooms during the heatwave. She called it part of a research project and shared videos of the act with faculty.

The move sparked criticism from students and faculty, who… pic.twitter.com/kUOkZFOuDS

— The Siasat Daily (@TheSiasatDaily) April 14, 2025

The move sparked widespread criticism after the video surfaced on social media. While some alleged it was an attempt to appease those in power, others questioned the university’s priorities, highlighting how classrooms lack basic cooling facilities like air conditioners, while offices of higher authorities such as the principal and vice-chancellor were certainly well-equipped.

Reaction from X users

Yeh #NayaHindustan hai! Yeh ghar me ghusega bhi, aur gobar bhi failayega!

🇮🇳✌🏼🙏🏼 https://t.co/0dQmf9BSKv

— Parth 🐒 (@parthfeb) April 14, 2025

क्या इन्होंने अपने घर की दीवारों पर गोबर लीप कर एसी हटा दिया है? क्या
इन्होंने प्रिंसिपल ऑफिस की दीवारों को गोबर से लीप कर एसी हटा दिया है? क्या वाइस चांसलर ने अपने ऑफिस की सभी दीवारों पर गोबर लीप कर एसी हटा दिया है ? https://t.co/aQMM5mKHxa

— ravish kumar (@ravishndtv) April 14, 2025

We are in Deep-Shit. https://t.co/KoWnAys6rb

— Kabiran (@Kabiran_) April 14, 2025

All through the Education, from Primaries to post Graduation, our teaching community has been filling our brains with Cow dung, this is just an external extension. https://t.co/LQ7Sa4pzYF

— Ricky Rajkumar (@Rickyrajkumar) April 14, 2025

Awaiting for a peer reviewed paper on the benefits of cow dung technology. https://t.co/QLvB2MEMsJ

— 𝕸𝖔𝖌𝖆𝖒𝖇𝖔 ‏موگامبو (@im_Mogambo) April 14, 2025

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