Day 5: After Barak Banga, AABHA & Bangla Sahitya Sabha too express solidarity with teachers of Cachar College

way2barak, Sept.27: The protest demonstration launched by Assam College Teacher’s Association (ACTA) Unit of Cachar College against the Principal, Siddhartha Sankar Nath has entered the 5th day. ACTA ardently appealed to the civil society, organizations, various employees’ associations and media friends to stand in solidarity with the teachers of Cachar College for the sake of safeguarding the sanctity and dignity of Higher Education in Assam.

Responding to the call of ACTA, earlier, Barak Upottaka Banga Sahitya O Sanskritik Sammelan, Youth Against Social Evils (YASE) extended their support to the college teachers. On Tuesday, during the 5th day of the protest demonstration, two more organisations, Silchar Unit of Bangla Sahitya Sabha, Asom and All Assam Bengali Hindu Association (AABHA) also took part and expressed their solidarity to the democratic movement launched by ACTA against the authoritarian regime unleashed by Siddhartha Sankar Nath, Principal of Cachar College, Silchar.

Expressing his views, Sri Basudev Sharma, President of All Assam Bengali Hindu Association (AABHA) said, “Cachar College has got a rich legacy. The chair of the Principal of Cachar College was once adorned by luminaries like Debabrata Dutta, Bhaktimadhab Chatterjee, Sishir Chakraborty, Sukhumoy Bhattacharjee and others. In the recent past, I have been reading in newspapers and web portals various disturbing news about this institution. I am not here to justify the actions of anybody. I am here to ensure that the student- teacher relationship at this temple of learning remains normal and the academic atmosphere prevails over here. It also needs to be ensured that the teaching community can come here and impart lessons without any fear. I don’t know exactly the resolutions of ACTA or the views of the Cachar College Students’ Union (CCSU). But what I want is that the impasse prevailing in Cachar College must get over at the earliest so that a proper academic atmosphere can be ensured again.”

“To achieve the aim of attaining a congenial academic atmosphere, our organisation (AABHA) would stand beside you. We are also ready to walk with you for achieving this goal. Whenever we read any news of Cachar College now-a-days, whether it is in favour or against of this agitation, it pains us a lot. Our future generation, that is, the students who have taken admission here for studying must get a proper environment of education. But if that environment for imparting education to the students is hampered due to the role of any particular individual, then that person should leave this place. Today morning, I said to someone that if due to me the growth and development of an individual or the society is hampered, then, I feel that it is my moral duty to get away from that place. There is no place of ego here. I also appeal to you to come out of your ego, if any,  and find out ways and means to  end this impasse. I also appeal to the Governing Body of the college to shed off their ego. Even, I would urge upon the person against whom you have launched this agitation to come out of his ego,” added the President of AABHA.

Basudev Sharma concluded his speech by reassuring the teachers of College College, “All those who are sitting over here and waiting for justice, I would like to assure that we are with you in this protest demonstration. There is no role of any ‘ism’ over here. The only ‘ism’ which should work in us is that how to place Cachar College again in its throne of pristine glory and glamour. To achieve this goal, whatever help is possible from our end, we assure to extend that to you.”

Responding to the call of ACTA, Samar Bijoy Chakraborty, retired subject teacher of Adharchand HS School, Silchar and Sahitya Pension recipient in the capacity of President of Silchar Unit of Bangla Sahitya Sabha, Asom along with other members of his organization took part in the protest demonstration at Cachar College, Silchar & expressed solidarity with the teachers. In his speech, Samar Bijoy Chakraborty said, “There are cross reports in the media about the recent incidents in Cachar College. One of my brothers, an alumni of Cachar College, called me up from Kolkata after reading a news report. Similarly, another acquaintance of mine from Tinsukia also called me up and expressed anguish about the present happenings at Cachar College. So I explained to them the real scenario. I think that the media coverage has not been done enough about your stand in a large way. As a human being, it pains me a lot to say that inspite of being inhabitants of a global world, how can a man with such a parochial attitude exists in this college!”

Without naming the Principal, the President of Silchar Unit of Bangla Sahitya Sabha, Asom said, “Educational Institution is the most honoured place all across the world. It’s indeed surprising how such kind of activities are done by an individual. I am not going into much details of this incident. I assure our full support to you all. I do believe that what you have narrated here is truth and so I wish success to this agitation.” Also present there were Sandipan Dutta Purkayastha on behalf of Bangla Sahitya Sabha, Asom and Partha Das from AABHA.

Further, during the day, Central Executive Committee Member (CECM) of ACTA from Cachar Zone, Sudarshan Gupta said, “The Principal of Cachar College has been spreading blatant lies about our esteemed colleagues of Cachar College that they are here sitting for protest demonstration without taking classes. But I would like to inform you that the issue here is quite reverse. It is the teachers of Cachar College who have in their 22-point charter of demands given to the principal a few days ago raised the demand that inspite of the fact that results of Higher Secondary was declared in the month of May, 2022. But since then, classes for the TDC 1st Semester and HS 1 year have started in all other colleges, but the Principal of Cachar College has not yet declared the class routine. The teachers want to take classes, but the Principal is busy in devising plots to harass the teachers and instigate students against them!” He also added that the teachers are religiously giving their invigilation duties and after that they are participating in the protest demonstration. “We know our duties and responsibilities. We want a safe, pure and congenial atmosphere so that academic activities can take place here without any fear and for that the exit of the present Principal of this college is a prerequisite.”

Also present during the protest demonstration of the day were Chandan Paul Choudhury, President of ACTA Cachar Zone, Secretary Hemanta Kr Bora, President of Cachar College Unit Md Samsuddin, Secretary Khajen Basumatary, teachers from ALC College, Algapur.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu is on a 3-day visit of Barak Valley. While responding to a journalist on Tuesday in Silchar as regards the situation of Cachar College, he said that the state government has already initiated an enquiry into the alleged negligence of duty of the Principal during the conduct of Recruitment Exam of Grade III & IV on 21 August. A detailed report has been submitted by the DHE Assam. He also stated that he has come to know about other allegations against the Principal of the college. Dr Pegu said that his government will look into the entire matter.

ACTA has called upon all its esteemed members throughout the State to join their hand for standing strongly by the Cachar College teachers for the sake of salvaging the dignity and sanctity, not only of Higher Education, but also for the whole teaching community of Assam.

Also Read: Day 4: Agitation for removal of Principal intensifies as many other colleges takes part at demonstration in Cachar College