“Shri Ramakrishna Ghosh is a courtier, though not a king,” Memorandum against MLA for insulting VC of Rabindranath Tagore University

The former and present students of Bengali department of Gauhati University, submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Assam’ stating that they are deeply saddened with the news that a local MLA insulting the Prof. Amalendu Chakraborty, the Vice-Chancellor of Rabindranath Tagore University, Hojai with ugly words and expressions in a recent meeting of the Executive Council of the University. The news created lot of anger and pain; our esteems are deeply hurt with the incident.

The memorandum submitted to the Governor of Assam who is also the Chancellor, Rabindranath Tagore University states, “Sir, we all hope that this university, named after Vishwa Kabi, will add a new feather to the glory of Assam and illuminate the academic world with new light. But the patterns of pressure and intervention from various quarters on administrative works of the Vice-Chancellor for the past few days and the boss-like behavior of the EC member cum MLA in the said meeting is really disappointing. These actually challenge the autonomy of a university.”

It adds, “Professor Amlendu Chakraborty is nearing the end of his career. He has not only huge number of students spread world-wide, but also numerous enthralled listeners of his eloquent and scholarly speeches; and scholarly readers of his research publications. The ugly behavior with such an academic and intellectual leader indicates that some people are unable to understand the grace of knowledge.”

“MLA- Hojai Shri Ramakrishna Ghosh is a courtier, though not a king. There is a well-known Sanskrit proverb- “Swadeshe Pujyote Raja Vidwan Sorbotro Pujyate” (The king is worshipped in the Kingdom, and Scholar is Worshipped Everywhere). The MLA forgot the proverb and hurt the dignity of university and academia,” added the memorandum.

“We are saddened with the observation that in the state of Assam, in recent days, public funded education system and the teaching communities in public funded institutes are abused by responsible quarters off and on. The space of opinions from stakeholders is blocked, and an impression is being systematically generated that teachers are responsible for every evil in the education sector. We have seen the head-teacher being bullied in front of the media, the teacher being forced to run behind the minister with a file, the professor being slapped by the administrative head, and we have also heard such indelicate remarks about absence of ‘Maal’ in the head of many professors. The conduct of MLA Shri Ramkrishna Ghosh can be considered as the continuity of this culture created in the state. It seems that some people consider blaming and harassing teachers as their constitutional right. This situation is polluting the educational environment in general. On the contrary, many questions of rights and status of teachers remain unattended,” asserts the memorandum.

“We do not know what exactly happened. But the news clippings give an impression that the Vice Chancellor took some steps without consultation with the MLA. University authority has the right to take decisions subject to ratification in statutory bodies. Even if it was an administrative lapse, the democratic and legal avenues were open to the member of EC (MLA). Without exploring these avenues, the MLA scolded the Vice Chancellor as if the later is his subordinate,” further adds.

It concludes, “This is very unfortunate. We, the former and present students of Bengali department of Gauhati University are deeply aggrieved with such behavior with our teacher who is still our inspiration and guide in our academic exercise. We consider it an insult to ourselves. In light of above, we urge upon your Excellency to remove the MLA Shri Ramkrishna Ghosh from the Executive Council of the University immediately. As the Chancellor of the University, we request you kindly to take disciplinary action against the indicent member of EC. We hope that your kind intervention will uphold the dignity of education Sector and academic environment in the state.”

The same has been signed by around 146 present and former students of Bengali department of Gauhati University