Aderelict, blue-coloured bus with 'Presidency College Girls' Hostel' written on it stands in stark contrast to the freshly painted main building. This is the refurbished heritage facade of the nearly two-century old college, now a university. Just like the bus, a host of faculty members feel abandoned by the wave of poribortan (change) that has transformed the college into a university. The state government's resolution to upgrade Presidency into a world-class institution is facing some serious challenges in the form of faculty exodus, campus security and corruption charges.
"A lot has changed since 2011. The drive to discard the old has not even spared the guard whose family has worked here for two generations," says a faculty member from the geology department on request of anonymity. "I joined the college in the late 1970s as a student and later became a faculty member. Sadly, in spite of years of teaching, the selection committee didn't deem me fit, like several other colleagues, to teach in the university. We were issued marching orders."
In the past year, six newly-appointed faculty members have resigned - some on grounds of poor pay and some in protest against the disregard for the University Grants Commission rules by the university authorities. Benjamin Zachariah, former faculty member of the History department, claims that he had pointed out several instances of this disregard for rules. Zachariah also says that he had brought to light malpractices like reopening of sealed examination papers. "Students are often punished with poor grades in case they are vocal in the protests," he adds, while stating that mails and social networking accounts of students and teachers are often hacked by the university authorities.
Away from all the bickering and allegations about red tape flying to and fro between the administration and faculty, students of undergraduate and postgraduate courses feel that they ought to have representation in the governing council. However, as student union elections across the state have been suspended, there is no organisation to represent their interest. It is the Presidency alumni which has been vocal about the students' issues. For instance, when Trinamool Congress activists ransacked the campus and threatened a girl student with dire consequences, the alumni expressed solidarity with the erstwhile students. Hundreds of them took to the streets in protest against the incident.
"We did feel insecure for a while, but the authorities have now tightened security in the campus. The governor of West Bengal, who is also the university chancellor, came to meet us after the incident and promised to take all the necessary measures," says Somdutta Ghosh, who is pursuing an undergraduate course in economics. Another student, Sourabh Maity, talks wistfully of the tales of student-teacher bonding that he had heard of in the past. "That bond seems to have loosened considerably. Perhaps that is good in a way as it will keep us focused on academics."
"A lot has changed since 2011. The drive to discard the old has not even spared the guard whose family has worked here for two generations," says a faculty member from the geology department on request of anonymity. "I joined the college in the late 1970s as a student and later became a faculty member. Sadly, in spite of years of teaching, the selection committee didn't deem me fit, like several other colleagues, to teach in the university. We were issued marching orders."
In the past year, six newly-appointed faculty members have resigned - some on grounds of poor pay and some in protest against the disregard for the University Grants Commission rules by the university authorities. Benjamin Zachariah, former faculty member of the History department, claims that he had pointed out several instances of this disregard for rules. Zachariah also says that he had brought to light malpractices like reopening of sealed examination papers. "Students are often punished with poor grades in case they are vocal in the protests," he adds, while stating that mails and social networking accounts of students and teachers are often hacked by the university authorities.
Also Read
Malabika Sarkar, vice chancellor of the university, who claims to have dismissed Zachariah, has rubbished his allegations. According to her, the selection committee is authorised to interview and select the candidates, and that there has been no compromise on merit. Sarkar maintains that all the faculty members appointed by the committee are competent to teach. "Out of 159, only six have left so far citing personal reasons. Dismissal of Zachariah by the university takes the total to seven and can't be termed as a faculty exodus," she says. Zachariah, however, said that he had resigned and was not dismissed.
Away from all the bickering and allegations about red tape flying to and fro between the administration and faculty, students of undergraduate and postgraduate courses feel that they ought to have representation in the governing council. However, as student union elections across the state have been suspended, there is no organisation to represent their interest. It is the Presidency alumni which has been vocal about the students' issues. For instance, when Trinamool Congress activists ransacked the campus and threatened a girl student with dire consequences, the alumni expressed solidarity with the erstwhile students. Hundreds of them took to the streets in protest against the incident.
"We did feel insecure for a while, but the authorities have now tightened security in the campus. The governor of West Bengal, who is also the university chancellor, came to meet us after the incident and promised to take all the necessary measures," says Somdutta Ghosh, who is pursuing an undergraduate course in economics. Another student, Sourabh Maity, talks wistfully of the tales of student-teacher bonding that he had heard of in the past. "That bond seems to have loosened considerably. Perhaps that is good in a way as it will keep us focused on academics."