Until Monday (August 4, 2025), University of Calcutta officiating Vice-Chancellor Santa Datta (De) was little known outside academic circles. But following a decision to uphold the university’s autonomy against a request from the State’s Higher Education Department, Prof. Datta (De) has received wide appreciation from both faculty and students.
The Department had written to the university asking it to reschedule B.Com and LLB examinations slated for August 28, which coincides with the foundation day of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, the students’ wing of the Trinamool Congress. Prof. Datta (De) convened a Syndicate meeting on Monday, where the majority opinion was in favour of continuing with the examinations as scheduled.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Prof. Datta (De) said that it was “unprecedented” for the State government to write to the university over the foundation day of a student organisation. She added that by adhering to the schedule, the university had safeguarded its institutional autonomy. She also said that it was the government’s responsibility to ensure normal traffic movement on that day, as it does when Opposition parties call for strikes.
“This is one of the most courageous decisions she took as V-C and such kind of courage and spine is the rarest of rare things among today’s Bengalis. She herself is a message and she taught all of us what should be the responsibility of a good citizen of the country. Politicians and the ruling party have very short and narrow vision, they can do anything immoral to be in power, that makes the role of teachers very significant in such times,” Mrinmoy Pramanick, a professor at the university, said.
Shreya Datta, a doctoral research scholar, said, “In the current political climate of the State, when academics is marked by fear, intimidation, and corruption, the decision taken by the V-C along with the Syndicate members stands out as truly unprecedented. For scholars and students, such actions remind us that we must never compromise our core principles, even in the face of pressure from the ruling establishment. This kind of courage is essential across all spheres of the State if we are to reclaim its lost glory.”
Ayan Ghosh, another doctoral researcher, said, “We always felt the need to bell the cat and our V-C madam did just that, and very courageously. From a student’s perspective, exams are always stressful, and it becomes frustrating when they are preponed or postponed. Postponing an exam due to a political party’s programme not only creates chaos among students but also sets a dangerous precedent, encouraging such audacious demands from all political parties in the future.”
SFI activist Malyaban Ganguly said that the university had since received another communication from the State government, seeking access to its financial records. “It is worth noting that a large number of permanent teaching positions in the university remain vacant, and student union elections have not been held for over seven years,” he added.
The Calcutta University Teachers’ Association (CUTA) also issued a statement supporting the V-C, Registrar, and Syndicate members. “We categorically oppose any intervention in the internal affairs and workings of the university. Autonomy is mandatory for its excellence and acceptability to the wider society,” CUTA president Sanatan Chattopadhyay said.
Published – August 05, 2025 06:08 pm IST
