​​Calcutta University holds scheduled exams on founding day of​ TMC students’ wing despite pressure for postponement

The University of Calcutta, led by its officiating Vice-Chancellor, stood up to political pressure and, in spite of repeated demands for their postponement, conducted semester exams on what happened to be the founding day of the ruling Trinamool Congress’s student wing.

In the normal course, the officiating V-C, Prof. Santa Datta (De), refusing a demand by the Trinamool Congress machinery would have been seen as a confrontation between the Governor and the State Government, something that West Bengal is accustomed to, considering that she was appointed by Governor C.V. Ananda Bose two years ago. But since the matter is related to the timely conduct of exams, something that benefits students, she has earned praise from those belonging to different political hues except, of course, the ruling party.

“We laud the authorities for successfully completing the examination by overcoming several challenges and threats from the ruling political dispensation. University is an autonomous institution and maintaining its academic autonomy should be the first and foremost priority of any academic administrative setup. University of Calcutta has again led the path for others to follow in terms of leading the university in right track at this turmoil. Any programme of any political party is trivial when compared to scheduled examinations and the government cannot be oblivious of this fundamental tenet of administration,” Prof. Sanatan Chattopadhyay, president of Calcutta University Teachers’ Association, told The Hindu.

Nearly 30,000 students from over 150 colleges under the university are said to have appeared for the exams — held in close to 110 centres in and around Kolkata — mainly for B.A./B.Sc./B.Com fourth semester, and for fourth, sixth and eighth semesters of B.A. LLb.

“Principals are to see that the examinations are held smoothly and peacefully. Almost 99% of the students sat for the exams at our college today. No one reported delay in attending. Traffic was clear,” said Jaydeep Sarangi, principal of Kolkata’s New Alipore College, where close to 700 students from other institutions wrote the exams on Thursday morning and afternoon.

Shreya Datta, a doctoral research scholar with the university, said: “Today’s examination, something that should have been a routine event, feels like a celebration. Perhaps this is because few people have the courage to do the right thing. Cong​ratulations to the authorities of Calcutta University, especially the Vice-Chancellor, for setting an example that will be remembered in history! At the same time, I feel deeply sorry that she had to endure abusive words from the students’ wing of TMC simply for standing by what is right. Decency must always stand above politics.”

Malyaban Ganguly, a former student of the university and an SFI activist, said: “That the ruling party should seek to obstruct the examination system in pursuit of its political designs is deeply tragic. In the history of West Bengal, such an instance stands without precedent. For years, the State Government has sought to erode the autonomy of the University of Calcutta. Yet, even in the face of such relentless pressure, the university’s decision shines forth as an act of dignity and pride.”