Brigadier O.P. Chaudhry (VSM) Remembered as Architect of MDU’s Academic Expansion

Sonipat, August 16, 2026: Rich tributes were paid to former Vice Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, Brigadier O.P. Chaudhry, VSM, at a Prayer Meeting held in Sonipat on Sunday. Speakers recalled his distinguished contribution to education, society and the nation and highlighted his qualities of leadership, compassion and administrative acumen.

Floral tributes were offered at his portrait during the prayer meeting. MDU Director, Public Relations, Sunit Mukherjee, said Brigadier Chaudhry played a significant role in the academic and infrastructural expansion of the university and followed a student-centric approach to administration.

Mukherjee said several departments, including Fine Arts, Physical Education, Defence and Strategic Studies, Public Administration, Rural Development and Statistics, were established during Brigadier Chaudhry's tenure. Large-scale recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff also strengthened the university's human resources, he added. Mukherjee conveyed the condolences of the entire MDU community to the bereaved family.

MDU Director, Sports, Kultaj Singh, recalled his close personal association with the former Vice Chancellor and said the Department of Physical Education came into existence during his tenure. Brigadier Chaudhry, he added, gave a major impetus to physical education and sports at the university.

               Former MDU Professor of History and former Vice Chancellor of CDLU Sirsa, Prof. Vijay Kayat, expressed gratitude for Brigadier Chaudhry's commitment to social justice and his efforts to ensure representation of marginalised sections in higher education.

               Former MDUTA and FEDCUTA president Dr. Vikas Siwach described Brigadier Chaudhry as an academic administrator of repute. Retired Executive Engineer Baljeet Singh and several other speakers also shared their memories of the former VC.

The prayer meeting was attended by several members of the MDU community, including former professors, principals, university alumni and senior officials including retired Professor Dr. Daleep Singh; Dr. J.P. Yadav (former Vice-Chancellor IGU Meerpur), Principal Dr. Suraj Prakash Yadav; retired principals Dr. Shamsher Ahlawat and Dr. Sunita; MDU alumna IPS officer Suman Manjari; and IAS officer Subhita Dhaka. Kiran Dalal, Principal of Bright Scholar, Sonipat; Samiksha Panwar, Director and Chairperson of Bright Scholar Senior Secondary School, Sonipat; and retired teacher Ramesh Dahiya. Prominent citizens from various walks of life, including ex-servicemen, also attended the prayer meeting.

Prof. K.P.S. Mahalwar, President of the MDU Retired Teachers’ Welfare Association, expressed deep condolences on the demise of the former MDU Vice-Chancellor and paid tribute to his significant contribution to the university and the academic community.

Brigadier Chaudhry's son Dr. Inderjeet Singh Chaudhry and grandson Amardeep Chaudhry expressed gratitude to all those who attended the prayer meeting and offered condolences to the family. Smt. Damyanti, wife of Brig.Chaudhry, his daugher Veena Rathee, son-in-law Col. Suresh Rathee, daughter-in-law Smt. Saroj Chaudhry, grandson Vikram Rathee, other family members were present on the occasion.

               Notably, Brigadier Chaudhry served as MDU Vice Chancellor from February 23, 1991, to February 22, 1994. Born on September 5, 1931, at Tharu Uldepur in Sonipat district, he served in the Army Education Corps from 1958 to 1987 and was Commandant of the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun. After retirement, he served as Director of Motilal Nehru School of Sports, Rai, from 1989 to 1991 and later as Chairperson of the Haryana Board of School Education from 2003 to 2006. He passed away on August 7, 2026.