A video showing Laxmibai College Principal Pratyush Vatsala applying cow dung to classroom walls has gone viral, triggering widespread online backlash. The footage, reportedly shared by the principal herself in a teachers’ WhatsApp group, shows her coating walls in C Block of the Delhi University college using the traditional material, assisted by staff members.
Responding to the controversy, Vatsala said that the activity is part of an ongoing research project titled “Study of Heat Stress Control by Using Traditional Indian Knowledge.” The study, led by a faculty member, is being conducted in porta cabins, and the principal claimed there was no harm in using natural substances like mud or cow dung.
“The research is under process. I will be able to share details after a week. Some people are spreading misinformation without understanding the full context,” Vatsala said.
In the video, she is heard explaining that the indigenous technique is being explored to naturally cool classrooms, stating that rooms in C Block would soon offer a more pleasant teaching experience.
While the act has drawn criticism online, the principal maintains that it was part of a scientific inquiry, not a regressive practice. The college administration has yet to release an official statement beyond Vatsala’s remarks.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)