Anuradha Lohia set to join as VC of Presidency University

Ultimately things have been sorted out and a new vice chancellor of Presidency University, Anuradha Lohia is to take charge on May 15, 2014. The controversy surrounding the joining of the new VC to Presidency seemed to have arisen as outgoing interim VC Malabika Sarkar had previously informed the higher education department that she would be available till May 13. However the government asked Lohia on April 28th to take over on May 2 itself. Sarkar stated that she was not duly informed about this by the higher education department. Naturally sources close to Sarkar claimed that she felt humiliated as her term had been cut short. Sarkar’s official term ends on May 15. Sarkar had also sent an SMS to the higher education department informing them that she desired to vacate her post only on May 13 as 13 is her lucky date. Sarkar has been expecting an official communication from the government. The government however was never too keen upon granting a choice to Sarkar to decide on her date of departure because the order extending her term by three months had clearly stated that her extension from February 15, 2014, would to be until a new VC joins. An official said that Lohia was given May 2 as the joining date as she was leaving the country for three weeks only to return on May 26 which would mean a premier university like Presidency would be left without a VC for a long time. Lohia will be the first full time vice-chancellor of Presidency. Lohia had stated on April 28 after her appointment that the Governor of West Bengal had wished her luck to be able to do the best for Presidency University. Lohia had spent 45 minutes discussing with the Governor about the envisioned path for Presidency in its journey towards excellence. Anuradha Lohia is a Presidency alumnus having got her PhD from Calcutta University. She then undertook a postdoctoral training at New York University Medical Center. She has a laboratory at Bose Institute. Lohia was initially the second choice amongst a list drawn out of probable candidates for heading the Presidency University by a three member VC search committee. The committee put the list to the governor for his due approval. As the first choice Sabyasachi Bhattacharya, former director of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research refused to take up the offer citing health issues the governor on gave his approval to Anuradha Lohia as his choice. Sumantra Chatterji of the National Centre for Biological...

Presidency University with its new directives

Presidency University is an exception which has been converted from a College to a fully fledged University in the recent past. The university has earned its autonomy as a rare case in the educational realm of West Bengal. The Presidency College with its stunning track records has been striving for excellence as a newbie in the world of Universities. The bold decision of autonomous University by the contemporary Chief Minister, Buddhadev Bhattacharya, has received accolades from every corner. It is reported that with such an elegant past, the Presidency University is going to implement some stringent rules and stipulations for the students within the campus. Perhaps the recent turbulence regarding the action of the disciplinary committee has worked in the backdrop of such a drastic step by the University authority. Whenever any new laws are implemented to discipline the students, popular buzzword of infringement to democracy becomes the whistle that is blown by some deft politicians and politically motivated educationists. Even the Vice Chancellor or the Registrar of Presidency University may be in an utterly appalling situation, due to their commendable steps against indiscipline. Can not the University impose some fundamental rules for the students? A pretty tricky proposition for the front running institute in West Bengal today, is it not? The reports reveal that the University wants to restrain the students from loitering inside the campus after 8 PM. The University wants to be strict about intake of any alcohol or addictive products inside the campus. The Presidency University wants to put a bar on the comments of the students in the social networking sites which may stain the glamor of the University. We may assume that the restriction in the posts in the social networking sites may aim at slightly encumbering the freedom of the students, but who will accept remarks that might malign the glory of the institution. Slight jargon juggling would make the comments be seen in better light. The educationist or politicians have not raised objections against the free postings of the students at the social networking sites. The so called proclaimed critics have even smelled an essence of strangulation in democracy with the implementation of the rules and stipulations. Is it that any untoward incident that should be promptly reacted against by several educationalists and politicians? It is assumed that most of the colleges and universities across the globe always imply some rules and regulations for its students. Even the newly admitted students and their guardians are asked to sign a memorandum for...

Reluctance in Ragging can become fatal

It is reported that Abhijit Chakraborty, the Vice Chancellor of Jadavpur University, may soften his stand against the ragging accused students. This might be treated as his way to hit back to his predecessor, Dr. Souvik Bhattacharya, who had resigned from his post in the recent past. Perhaps the desperate aspiration of Abhijit Chakraborty that has prompted him to become highly proactive and ragging being the most vulnerable case can bring him under the beam of light of media. Had it been to prove his worth, he could pick up any other issue. This is to be noted that Souvik Bhattacharya and Siddharth Dutta had been confined forcefully by the unruly students’ wings for more than 50 hours as they became functional to take punitive action against some accused in a case of ragging. Though Souvik Bhattacharya has left, but Siddharth Dutta and other members retain. If new temporary Vice chancellor attempts to desert his colleagues in a time of need, he may be rewarded by the Government, but the educationists will certainly not spare him. Ragging is a deep seeded disease that has caused the premature termination of many budding kids’ at the most vulnerable ages. The Central Government and the UGC have formulated stringent policies against Ragging. Souvik Bhattacharya tried to toe to the line and never indulged in any leniency against the accused even after passing 50 long hours in a horrible condition. His no-compromise stand had received accolades from all corners and the Students had been sent to back foot. Souvik Bhattacharya, the Vice Chancellor may have gone back to his previous organization with the unfulfilled dreams, IIT, but he must be complemented for taking a tough stance. Any reluctance in case of ragging may even force to the top authorities of the country to slap a ban on the elite University. This is to be noted that Abhjit Chakraborty had been recruited as the temporary Vice Chancellor, before Souvik Bhattachary assumed the chair. His name was also enlisted in the recommended list for the post of the Vice Chancellor. It is also heard that one lobby in the top notch ruling party, tried to advocate the name of Abhjit Chkarborty. Whatever may be the reason of such leniency in case of ragging, the dream of Abhijit Chakraborty to unfurl the national flag in the ceremony of the Independence Day at the University may elude him even further as he was adjudged misfit for the post of Vice Chancellor of Jadavpur University by the search...

Souvik Bhattacharya resigns from Jadavpur University

While the memories of Achintya Biswas remaining afresh, we have been shocked to know that Souvik Bhattachary, the Vice Chancellor of Jadavpur University has resigned. He has also shown his articulation by quoting his personal reason behind the resignation. The resignation of Souvik Bhattacahrya can show only the tip of the iceberg, of what is going on inside the education segment of West Bengal. The truth is that the political interventions in the segment of education has created a churning inside the citizens and not left the education stalwarts untouched. The high level of academic accomplishments and huge experience of Souvik Bhattacharya failed to energize him to combat the direct and indirect political intrusions in the academic activities of the Jadavpur University. It is heard that a strong personality Souvik bhattacharya did never agree to bow down in front of any political pressure. Rather, he had been geared up to criticize the Government due to the unnecessary delay in  recruitment of the deans. It is also heard that Souvik Bhattacharya had faced enormous difficulties while working with some of the newly recruited deans, who have been seemingly blessed with the political support of the ruling party. He has shown guts to exhibit resilience against the mammoth pressure of the students’ wing in his small tenure. He also did never hesitate to raise voices against the Government order during admission. His uncompromising stance might have raised eyebrows of some of the Government officials that had gone certainly against his credibility. It has come to broad day light that Souvik was not the default choice of the search committee, but the chancellor had recommended his recruitment for the most vulnerable post in one of the most elite universities of the country. Some of the close friends of Souvik has expressed agonies and also stated that there is a sharp difference between the environment of IIT and Jadavpur University. We need to remember that even Achintya Biswas during his resignation raised the physical reasons, so as all others who have left their chairs during the tenure of the current Government. Muktinath Chattopadhaya is a classical example who had resigned from Higher Secondary Council with the excuse of ill health. Sugata Marjit and Chaitali Dutta had also talked of their personal reasons during resignation, which have failed to cut ice in the minds of the related segments. It is ridiculous to note that most of them have been recruited by the current Government only and they had to go also in the same...

Gopal Mitra is taking charge for Gaurbanga University

It is reported that Gopal Mitra, the dean of Rabindravarati University is taking charge as the Vice Chancellor of Gaurbanga University. The resignation of Achintya Biswas had created turbulence in the related segment and the University was looking for the right person to take care of jinx ridden University. He has been assigned the responsibility primarily for 6 months. It is heard that Achintya Biswas could not meet up the expectation of the Governmental authorities and there had been political influences in the entire episode. The Chancellor took enough time to accept his resignation. The news reports reveal that there had been several charges against the predecessor of Gopal Mitra and they were mostly politically motivated. When we always claim an education environment, which is free from all political fragments, the departure of Achintya Biswas has certainly raised eyebrows. It is indeed true that TMC has been able to infringe politics even in education segment just like their predecessor, CPM. What is the use of tangle politics even in education segment? We must take a note that Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister has clearly espoused the politics-free education, but unfortunately the reality depicts something else. The observers have certainly observed a lot of calamities in various colleges and schools due to the political interferences. Even some ministers or MLAs of the ruling party had been found in the College election. It must be noted that the dynamic movies captured by the TV camera cannot be falsified like the election manifesto and today, the vigilant eye of the media have been able to intrude magnificently. Let us hope that Gopal Mitra, who is taking over the charge on 22nd October, will try his best to portray an unbiased image and he will really work towards the growth of the Gaurbanga...