Assam University won't be allowed to go down the same path as Panchgram Paper Mill": BDYF

Assam University, which was founded after a long public struggle in the Barak region, is deteriorating rapidly. The Barak Democratic Youth Front (BDYF) has issued a statement calling for an agitation unless immediate steps are taken to improve the university.

According to BDYF Chief Convenor Kalparnab Gupta, Assam University and Tezpur University were established at the same time, but Tezpur University is currently ranked at number four in national rankings, while Assam University is ranked at 149. In fact, universities with a ranking above 100 are not even listed. This indicates the dire situation of Assam University. The BDYF has also received information that students from Barak Valley are getting themselves admitted to Tezpur University, which is very shameful.

The chief convenor of BDYF believes that the main reason behind the decline of Assam University’s quality is politicisation by the ruling party. He stated that both the current and previous vice-chancellor remain absent from Silchar for half of the year and spend most of their remaining time in Silchar attending various events. Consequently, the university becomes guardianless. Taking advantage of the situation, some teachers and non-teaching staffs escape from their duties, resulting in irregular exams, mistakes in question papers, delayed publication of results, and errors in result sheets. Furthermore, incompetent individuals are occupying the positions of Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, and Controller. The BDYF asserts that unless these individuals are discharged from their duties, there is no hope of improvement in the situation.

Kalparnav also highlighted that every university in the world includes the history of its establishment in its foundation curriculum. However, Assam University is the only exception. Despite being established 29 years ago, the university has not published an authentic book on its own history. During the tenure of Vice-Chancellor Subhash Saha, a committee was formed with Prof. Subir Kar as its head, and financial grants were allocated. Within the specified time, the committee prepared a book and submitted it to the university authorities, but for some unknown reason, it has not been published yet. Kalparnab claimed that the Registrar Pradosh Nath is misleading the Vice-Chancellors and preventing the publication of this book, and is actively working for the regionalists of Dispur. This effort is an attempt to erase the long struggle of the Barak people behind the establishment of this University. Therefore, BDYF demands the immediate removal of the Registrar.

Bahar Ahmed Choudhury, another convener of BDYF, demanded the current Vice Chancellor to immediately establish a committee comprising of all former Vice-Chancellors, Principals of all Barak Valley Colleges, and prominent academicians to improve the condition of this University. The recommendations of this committee must be implemented within a specific timeframe. The BDYF vowed that it will not allow this university, which is a product of the dreams and struggle of four million Barak people, to go down the same path as the Panchgram Paper Mill. If necessary, the BDYF will organise a second movement to achieve the goal.

The BDYF released this statement through convener Debayan Deb in a press release.