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Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Who is surprised by a Monojit Mishra? A look at Bengal colleges, governing bodies, and political control
The alleged rape of a student at a law college in Kolkata last month brought into focus a well-known West Bengal secret: the control by politicians of colleges in the state, largely through their governing bodies (GBs). In his latest visit to the state, which goes to the polls next year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday raised 'the state of the education sector' in Bengal, specifically the school jobs scam. 'What is happening in West Bengal is worrying. Be it primary education or higher education, the situation is the same everywhere. Thousands of teachers have lost their jobs because of grassroots corruption … Trinamool has put both the present and future of Bengal in crisis,' he said at a rally in Durgapur in Paschim Bardhaman district. The Indian Express looked at several colleges in and around Kolkata, some of which are affiliated to the University of Calcutta (CU), where Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders wield influence in the governing bodies. Following the case of alleged rape at the law college, it emerged that the main accused, Monojit Mishra, is a member of the TMC's student wing Trinamool Chhatra Parishad and was appointed a 'casual' clerical staffer after he graduated. A TMC MLA heads the college's governing body. Some MLAs and ministers, in fact, are the governing body presidents of multiple colleges. To questions about how this affects academic and administrative freedom in these institutions, the TMC points out that the appointments are well within the rules. The West Bengal Universities and Colleges (Administration and Regulation) Act, 2017, which sets out the rules on governing bodies, says in Article 5(3) that their tenure will be 'determined by the State Government from time to time'. As a result, many of these GBs have remained unchanged for over half a decade, with the government routinely extending their tenure every six months. The structure of these 10-member bodies is also such that it allows the government to stack them with people whom it either directly nominates or those who are closely linked to the TMC. Only four elected members make it to the governing bodies — three teachers and one non-teaching staff representative — and often, they too have links to the ruling party. Since student union elections have not been held in colleges for the past several years, the post of student representative continues to remain vacant. Some TMC leaders and the college governing bodies they are presidents of are: . Ashok Kumar Deb, Budge Budge MLA: Bangabasi College, Acharya Girish Chandra Bose College, Budge Budge College, South Kolkata Law College, and Sarsuna College . Shashi Panja, Industry Minister: Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Maharaja Srischandra College, Baghbazar Women's College, and Chittaranjan College . Chandrima Bhattacharya, Health Minister: Mrinalini Datta Mahavidyapith and Gopal Chandra Memorial College of Education . Sudip Banerjee, Kolkata North MP: Maulana Azad College and Seth Anandram Jaipuria College . Madan Mitra, Kamarhati MLA: Hiralal Mazumdar Memorial College for Women . Md Nadimul Haque, Rajya Sabha MP: Calcutta Girls' College The Indian Express reached out to all of them but received no response. 'Principals are now sandwiched between politics and college administration. There is no freedom to work,' said a college principal who refused to be identified. A recurring complaint among principals is the lack of change in the governing bodies. 'The GB in my college was last officially formed in 2018. Every six months, the government sends an extension order,' said Dr Satya Upadhyay, principal of Calcutta Girls' College. However, he added, that despite TMC MP Haque heading the college governing body, he didn't face any pressure. 'We sometimes have differences of opinion, but we end up finding a solution. You cannot take politics out of campuses,' Upadhyay said. Last month, after the principal of Kolkata's Rani Birla Girls' College, Srabanti Bhatacharya, initiated the election of teaching and non-teaching staff representatives to the GB — which has been unchanged for seven years — a government nominee dropped in a day before voting was to take place. The election was subsequently cancelled, with Bhattacharya hospitalised on complaint of acute chest discomfort. In a letter, the faculty and other staff members alleged that the government nominee had put pressure on the principal to halt the election. 'Those who don't listen to orders face consequences. Many principals have been suspended because of differences. For instance, it happened in Purulia Raghunathpur College because the principal didn't listen to the GB,' claimed former All Bengal Principals' Council president and retired AJC Bose College principal Purna Chandra Maity. Alleged political interference in colleges also extends beyond GB appointments, with instances of former leaders and general secretaries of TMCP getting appointed to non-teaching positions. In one instance, a powerful TMCP leader became the head clerk at Ashutosh College and a former general secretary was appointed the college accountant, said a source. This shows an 'urgent need for comprehensive reforms to restore academic autonomy and ensure transparent, democratic governance in colleges', said a college principal, who did not wish to be identified. Another feature of the political limbo on college campuses is the absence of regular student union elections. 'Non-functional student unions give the TMCP all the advantage,' said a CU official. 'College authorities also treat the TMCP unit as the students' union. Every college used to have a separate fund for these unions, and that now goes to the outfit.' Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha state president Indranil Khan alleged that 'over-politicisation of campuses' by the TMC had 'ruined the academic atmosphere'. 'Such people control colleges, admissions, and examinations. They would never nominate a fair academic to the governing body, as then they will not be able to rig elections,' he said. CPI(M) student wing SFI's All India Joint Secretary Dipsita Dhar accused the TMC of running a monopoly in colleges. 'The whole idea of having a governing body without a student in it is antithetical to internal democracy. Sadly, in Bengal, colleges have turned into a source of income for the Trinamool nexus,' she said. The institutional control of universities and educational institutions, however, is not exclusive to the TMC years. It was a source of consternation for the middle classes during the three-decade Left rule, too. In Economic and Political Weekly in June 2011, economist Pranab Bardhan, analysing the fall of the CPI(M), mentioned its all-pervasive control of institutions, including colleges and universities, and the damage it caused. 'The appointments and promotions in colleges and universities, directly orchestrated from the party office in Alimuddin Street and screened for party loyalty, decimated Bengal's long-enjoyed advantage in academic, intellectual and professional pursuits,' he wrote. TMCP state president Trinankur Bhattacharya defended the extended term of the general bodies, saying it was within the rules. 'I do not understand the problem if the GB president is a political person and is efficient. For example, Dr Shashi Panja is so efficient. Also, not all college GBs are in the party's control,' he said.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Unions a constant presence despite no union election
Kolkata: The campus where the law student was raped was not the only college where unions play a larger-than-life role despite the absence of a formal union. Across Kolkata, there are several colleges where no union exists on paper since union elections have not been held since 2017. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But the stranglehold of unions remain in these institutions as youths owing allegiance to politicians control different aspects of students' lives. At the law college under the scanner now, Monojit Mishra who had passed out in 2022, held sway over the students affairs though he had passed out in 2022. Though no union election had been held in the college for over eight years, it still had a union with various functionaries. The rape survivor had in her account to the police stated that she was offered the union general secretary's post by Monojit on Wednesday. As it turned out, he had in turn demanded sexual gratification. When she had turned down his advances, he resorted to rape. "In the absence of an elected union, several colleges are in the vice of the likes of Monojit who use their dadagiri to control the lives of students. Since there is on election, these men cannot be dethroned. The education should either do away with the unions completely and replace them with student councils or they should hold union elections," said a student of the law college. Around eight years ago, the state government had framed rules under the West Bengal Universities and Colleges (Administration and Regulation) Act, 2017, which stated that there would be students' councils instead of students' unions, but this hasn't been implemented since student elections were suspended in 2017. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "The students' union was established to look after students' interests on college campuses. The fund, which was formed by collecting money from each student of colleges, could be utilised by the college union for conducting programmes like freshers' welcome, farewell programme, Saraswati Puja, and other celebrations. Gradually, the focus shifted from serving students' interests to personal interests. Local political leaders also got involved in it," said an academic. College principals highlighted that they have no authority to question the utilisation of student funds. One principal said, "The union was defunct for many years. Now, who will utilise this fund and who should be given authority? Principals are in the most vulnerable position dealing with all these troubles while ensuring safety and security." Purna Chandra Maity, a former principal, said, "In every college, a section of students enjoy enormous power due to their political backing. They collect huge amounts of money during admissions even after the online admission system has been implemented. Who will stop them? Students' money should be utilised by union leaders through a teacher appointed by the college, but this was never followed. Now, in the absence of an elected body, who will manage this money? Most college principals are facing trouble due to these sections, as everybody knows. " In the recent past, several complaints were raised against pass-out students trying to acquire power to access this fund. Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College's student Deshma Ghosh moved to court regarding unwanted interference from Sabbir Ali, who was a former student of Day College. Ghosh said, "Sabbir Ali, who passed out from Day College, and his associates tried to maintain control over the campus. We faced problems as both colleges share the same campus. " A north Kolkata college student said, "Union rooms inside the colleges are dominated by political dadas who may have passed college years ago. Their presence and the power they enjoy inside the campus because of political connections often intimidate other students. I personally never visited the union room because I hardly see any student there. Various antisocial activities happen inside." A source said, "The rape incident at the law college has come to light and the accused have been arrested. But unfortunately, most colleges of the city are controlled by such 'dadas' who are close to power. There are many colleges where girls have been harassed or molested and boys have been physically assaulted on the campus, but unfortunately, complaints were not lodged out of fear." A student of the law college said, "Monojit controlled the college. He decided what cultural activities will take place, if an exam should be postponed or not, and would sort out attendance issues with authority." An insider said, "From North to South, most colleges in the city are controlled by dadas, who passed out several years ago or belong to the neighbourhood. This is because of their political connections and to retain power and control over the college. The union rooms are their free ground and they have free access to every corner of the college and are also part of the decision-making process. The unlimited power that they enjoy often leads them to threaten people, extort money, and intimidate teachers and students. "
