About Us

Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, was established on 2nd October 1983.Nestled in a sprawling and lush campus appropriately named ‘Priyadarsini Hills’ at Athirampuzha, about 13 Km from Kottayam, the University is among the largest affiliating Universities in Kerala and has an enviable reputation for enabling its innumerable service seekers to fulfill their academic aspirations.
Mahatma Gandhi University Employees Union (MGUEU), a unique democratic organization wedded to the upholding only the interests and welfare of the University employees and the University, was formed on 23rd February 1986 with just 26 members. The Union brings together all University employees who are committed to the concepts of Democracy and Freedom and who share a common outlook on issues pertaining to their welfare as well as the interests of the University. The impressive growth of MGUEU over the years in terms of membership and stature is testimony enough of its commitment to its motto of welfare and prosperity of each and every employee of the University.
The founder President of MGUEU was Sri.K.C. Joseph, who besides being a veteran Legislator is currently the Minister for Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. The founder Secretary was Sri.R.Salim Kumar. Sri.Ommen Chandy, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala provided his able leadership to the MGUEU as its President for a decade till 2005.
A quarter of century since its formation, blazing a trail with agitations for genuine rights of employees and for upholding the dignity of University Service the MGUEU forges ahead with zeal to fulfill its mandate of securing employee rights and ensuring just conditions of service.

Achievements

Strike for Campus Allowance: When the University Office was shifted fromPadinjarekaraBuildings near Collectorate, Kottayam to Athirampuzha the employees had to face a lot of hardships on account of lack of amenities in the new campus. The difficulties were aggravated by lack of sufficient conveyance facilities. Therefore it was only appropriate to demand Campus Allowance but the authorities were least sensitive and theUnion had to resort to agitations to secure the interests of all employees. When peaceful modes of agitation like Sit-ins, Dawn to Dusk Satyagraha, Indefinite Fast, Relay Satyagraha etc. failed to move the authorities the Union had to turn aggressive by blockading the then Vice Chancellor Dr.U.R.Ananthamoorthy. Finally the authorities were forced to give in to the demands of theUnion and Campus Allowance was sanctioned to all employees. In the process of thus securing the employees’ welfare the MGUEU had to take some hard knocks in the form of criminal cases slapped on its members , memos and threat of suspensions but the Union did not buckle under pressure and set an example of successful collective bargaining in its incipient stages itself.
Lifting of 23(IX) section from the Statute of the University: Section 23(IX) of the then Statute of the Mahatma Gandhi University appeared to be an unnecessary gag on the autonomy of the institution since it required the University to have prior Government approval for all appointments .The MGUEU launched agitations to have this section repealed and its efforts bore fruit when the same was annulled.
Pre Degree Board Strike: The Pre Degree Board Strike is a watershed in the history of the Union since it proved without any doubt that unlike other employees’ organizations the MGUEU is least concerned with the political hues of the party/coalition in power and is wedded only to the interests of the University Community. Though the idea of a Pre Degree Board was the brainchild of a regime to which the MGUEU was favourably disposed the very concept was felt to be against the interests of the University employees and the Union did not hesitate in the least to plunge into the movement against the Pre Degree Board. The 56 day strike in which the MGUEU was a key participant thwarted the attempts of the then Government to bring in the Board. In course of time however a Left Front Government installed the Higher Secondary Board which has proved to be more disadvantageous to the employees’ interests than the Pre Degree Board despite which there was not even a murmur of protest from service organizations inclined to the Left.
Strike against the autocracy against of Vice Chancellor: TheUnion reacted strongly to the political victimization of Union members by the then Vice Chancellor Dr.V.N.Rajasekharan Pillai. In the process 25 of theUnion’s members were arrested by the Police and cases slapped against them under PDPPI Act. The members were remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. TheUnion faced the challenge by forming a legal advisory cell to ensure legal help for all those who courted arrest. TheSub Court finally released the arrested members on bail. This again is a glorious chapter in the history of MGUEU whereby it reasserted its never-say-die attitude in the face of oppression and use of force.