Nagpur: The second Senate meeting of the year of Nagpur University will be held at the old main building, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Administrative Building, at Rabindranath Tagore Marg in Civil Lines on Wednesday. This marks an important revival of a decades-old tradition of holding the crucial meeting at the venue.The Senate meeting was last held at the old building on Nov 1, 2019. Since then, all Senate meetings, held twice a year to discuss key academic and governance issues, have been held only at the new Jamnalal Bajaj Administrative Building off Ambazari bypass.A heritage structure, the centrally located iconic building remained unused as the entire NU administration, including top offices and departments, shifted to the new building. The building suffered structural damage, causing anguish among many old-timers as well as Senate members.Senate members had been requesting the university administration to revive the tradition, which would also ensure revamping the historic building. During the last meeting, Senate members and media persons requested the administration to bring the heritage building into use to keep its glory intact.Finally, the administration decided to host one of the two meetings at the old building. The administration ordered renovation and repairs of the building. The NU exam section is also being shifted to the old building.Officials said the renovation works include painting exterior walls, laying a new carpet, replacing lighting and polishing furniture. Renovation work on top-floor offices is also underway, they said.Senate members Vishnu Changde and Manmohan Bajpai welcomed the move. “We started our careers in this historic convocation hall. We have an emotional attachment to it. This is my last Senate meeting here. The next meeting will be held at the new building after which elections are scheduled,” Changde said. Bajpai said the building must be preserved properly.
