Presidency College- The Victim of Leftist Whims
Posted : February 15, 2006 at 10:05 pm [IST]
I still remember my first going to the Presidency College. I had returned after getting married from my village, where I went to take some weeks off after my school final examination. But as it used to happen in rural Bihar in those days, younger brother of my grandfather who used to run the family, made me marry to Yamuna. He had some commitment to keep to her father.
By the time I returned, the result was out and we were late. My grandfather would not allow me to go alone. We went to Calcutta to find a college for my intermediate in science course. I couldn’t have even thought of Presidency that was the best college of the state at that time. Our first destination was Scottish Church College. They were busy interviewing for history honours course. We were told to wait. But then we decided to try at St. Xavier’s. They, again, asked us to complete the application form and come for a test on a later date. We came to Presidency. The clerk at the counter enquired if I had my marks sheet. I put forward the small sheet of paper.
“Have you brought money for admission?” I enquired hesitatingly, “How much?” “Twenty five rupees.” We gave and I was admitted in Presidency. It happened exactly the same way, when we went to Hindu Hostel. I was allotted hostel after we paid some Rs23 or so. Is it not something unbelievable for the students and parents of today?
I still cherish the memory of talking with Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Sir Jadunath Sarkar, some time in 1956 near around Sarsawati Puja.
I have a plan to visit Presidency College and Hindu Hostel with my friend Ashoke Kumar Sengupta this time. We were together there in 1955-57. In last week, I read about some team visiting the college to grant it autonomy. It would have become a deemed university long back, but for the leftist government. After the left came in power, Presidency lost its special status, and became one of the so many government colleges. This was the result of a typical mentality of the political party, and perhaps to certain extent, because of inferiority complex of some in authority.
The national Assessment and Accreditation Council has recommended for granting autonomy of Presidency College after a recent inspection with immediate effect. It means an additional Rs 1 crore UGC’s aid as part of autonomy package. The grant is a secondary issue. But once autonomous, the college would be free to generate its funds and to frame its own rules and policies for the recruitment of teachers and will be out of the clutches and control of the government and WBCUTA. Presidency could always attract huge lot of donations from its alumni spread all over the world, and grow as a globally recognized educational institute and even a university, if it so desires.
However, CPM dominated powerful West Bengal College and University Teachers’ Association (WBCUTA) has been insisting that ‘the jewel in the crown’ (Presidency College) should not slip out of the grip of either the government or Calcutta University.
And so WB government has never opted for its autonomy. Even now, the position is same. And it’ higher education minister, after getting clearance from the Accreditation Council said, “We will not seek autonomy for Presidency College until the government gets full support from the teaching community.” What a shame for a state of intellectuals.
It shows how much clout the WBCUTA has on the government’s decision. Neither the government not the CPM party wants to antagonize the teachers. They form an important part of election machinery. They are appointed polling and presiding officers and are recruited for rectification of the voters’ list by the state-election office. And the election is near. Why should not EC drop this practice of using teachers for election works?
UGC is eager to bestow autonomy, but the college has not applied in the absence of a government nod. As a great surprise on Feb.14, Brave Buddha dared to go against his minister and assured the assembly that he would ‘personally intervene’ to ensure Presidency College became autonomous institution, emphasizing his intention to keep centers of educational excellence away from politics. “Some teachers do not want this to happen. But Presidency has to be granted autonomy and made a center of excellence. Bimal Jalan -the former governor of RBI has already granted Rs 4 crore to Presidency for this purpose.”
I don’t know if Buddha was sincere enough and will push his minister to go ahead with the formalities or his was just one another political statement for limited consumption. I wish he did not hold Presidency to play its role as institute of national importance.
And it is amazing that Presidency even after all the party control, has maintained its academic image in the country. I was surprised when the inspection team declared it as one of the best institute doing a lot of research work. In ‘India Today’ list of the best colleges of India, Presidency has been keeping its place.
Its alumni list even today must be the ‘who’s who’ of Bengal’s top intellectuals. It was the college where PCRay taught and Jagdish Chandra Bose carried out his world famous experiments. It was the college of Dr. Rajendra Prasad- the first President of India, and Sir Jadunath Sarkar, the famous historian. It was the institute that bred Mihir Sen as well as Ashok Sen and Ashok Mitra too. And as clear, Bimal Jalan came from this college. He was one year junior to me. I remember one Ram Gopal Agrawal who came to live in Hindu Hostel. He had the same problem as mine for food in Eden Hindu Hostel, where even in lintel preparation, they used to put small fish. And I was strict vegetarian at that time.
I remember the former chairman of Bidhan Nagar municipality, a CPM man telling me once, ‘I know only two persons of Bihar- Dr. Rajendra Prasad and yourself.’ It was as I did my Intermediate Science from Presidency before joining IIT, Kharagpur in 1957.
Presidency has been the highly respected and adored institute. Let be autonomous. Let it grow as university.
- Indra
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