The 3rd of July saw yet another shameful & unprecedented event in the history of Higher Education Department, West Bengal. The members of the part-time teachers' association led by Elora Biswas, reached Khidderpore College , Kolkata, in the morning, in order to reinstate the already terminated part time teachers of the college to service. Surprisingly enough, in spite of citing the Govt. Order of 29th June, 2010, which clearly stated that no existing teacher can be terminated, the Principal of the college sternly informed the association that she can take back the terminated teachers for the time being, but such a decision has to legitimized by the G.B!!! She helplessly stated that she has no power over the G.B President, who cares a fig for such Govt. Orders. She also stated that if these teachers are taken back to service their salaries may be withheld by the G.B. Just Imagine!!! The G.B President after having fled the locality for all throughout the day, finally returned to the college at night & haughtily declared that such Govt decisions cannot be complied with. Who gave him the audacity to say so? Is it unwise to wonder that he is backed by a powerful faction of the State Higher Education Deptt, or of a political party, which empowers him to rule over the decision of the State Govt.?. At that very moment we felt by his impudence that he was was actually seated in the chair of the HE Minister. What a state are we living in, where an ordinary college G.B President needs to scan and scrutinize a Govt. order before taking the decision if such an Order can be at all implemented or not? Who rules the state's higher education department then, the College G.B Presidents all over the State or the HE Minister sitting comfortably in his cozy suit at Bikash Bhavan, who inspite of knowing everything pretends at every single instance to know nothing about such impudent college authorities??? Or it is a purely got-up game between the HE Minister, the Principals' Council & the College Authorities, a harmful & malignant nexus for the entire society, on the alter of which , hundreds of dedicated & qualified teachers are being sacrificed everyday & who eventually find themselves in the streets? The HE Minister assures us at every eyewash meeting that "all is well", & that he cares a lot about the temporary teachers, he cannot sleep for nights thinking of their sufferings, while in reality he encourages the college authorities, behind us, to do as they please, with their part-time teachers. One should learn from him the art of shedding "crocodile tears". This is probably the real story behind the screen. Otherwise wherefrom does such college authorities get such power to overrule & nullify a Govt. decision? It is high time for the HE Ministry of Bengal to realize that the teachers are not fools, who can be betrayed, manhandled & harassed by them & their allied college authorities in such fashion, repeatedly, over sustained period of time.Such treachery should stop immediately, or the Govt. would have to pay heavily for it. Teachers who have the might of pen in their hands, do have the power to spread the fire of revolution with their mighty hands too. Playing false with them can have bitter & disastrous consequences.
