After MCH, JU students raise union poll demand

Kolkata: Students at Jadavpur University held up posters and raised slogans, demanding elections to the students’ union, in the presence of university chancellor and governor C V Ananda Bose on Saturday, when the university held its convocation on the campus for the first time in two years. The JU demand came around a fortnight after Medical College and Hospital (MCH) students had gheraoed the institute principal and other officials and also launched a hunger strike with the same demand. They had subsequently withdrawn their agitation and held the union election on Thursday. The poll was conducted by the students and not by the college council. The students at JU started their demonstration the moment Bose reached the campus ahead of the convocation ceremony. Teachers and officials were seen requesting the students not to go ahead with their agitation and escorted the governor to the venue. But the protesters continued with their sloganeering even as the national anthem was sung and the university flag was hoisted, eliciting criticism from many, who felt it was “disrespectful to the anthem”. “What happened was unfortunate and unwarranted. The students certainly have the right to voice their demands but the way those demands were placed at the convocation was uncalled for. It affected the sanctity of the ceremony,” said vice-chancellor Suranjan Das. “They could have easily sought an appointment with the chancellor.” The VC highlighted the decline in funds from the UGC and other federal bodies. “Our university’s receipts in 2021-22 indicate how the contributions from UGC and other central bodies dwindled to 2.5% while that from the state rose to 94.2%. Without the state’s assistance, we would not have been able to maintain our search for excellence,” added Das, thanking the Global Jadavpur University Alumni Foundation for mobilizing financial support. He announced a centre for digital learning at JU would be set up and named after Samantak Das. The governor called JU students “heroes and sheroes” and praised the VC and teachers for the institute’s academic excellence. “A new generation from Bengal will lead the country as India will lead the world. JU students will conquer all opportunities,” he said. Pointing out that the custom of wearing a robe at convocation was a symbol of colonisation, Bose said, “We should have a dress code that reflects our heritage and not that of the British.” Chief guest Bimal Kumar Roy, ISI former director and former chairman of National Statistical Commission, spoke about building a scientific temper and JU’s contribution to ISI start of cryptology. When Bose was about to leave at the end of the event, FETSU and SFI members met him and handed him a letter with the demand for union elections. Aritra Mazumdar, chairperson, FETSU said, “The governor said he understood the importance of union. Assuring us of looking into it, he said we could meet him at Raj Bhavan if necessary.” Asked about the issue, the governor said every problem had a solution. “We will try to solve it,” he said.