Patna, Feb. 20: Over the past few months, there had been more strikes at Patna University than classes. For the past one week, studies suffered big time at the varsity in general and Patna College in particular over the death of Chandrashekar, a history honours student. The next week is unlikely to be any different.
Students owing allegiance to All India Students’ Association (AISA) today continued with their agitation protesting the death of Chandrashekar. The bonus was burning of the effigy of chief minister Nitish Kumar demanding withdrawal of FIR lodged against AISA supporters and boarders of Patna College hostels. They also threatened to intensify their agitation next week.
Markanday Pathak, a member of AISA and a postgraduate student at Darbhanga House, said: “From Monday, our agitation will be more vigorous.”
The Patna College administration yesterday lodged an FIR at Pirbhore police station against Abhuday, Markanday Pathak, Kumar Parwez, Rahul Vikash (all members of AISA) and 25 others on charges of disrupting academic activities and inciting students to join agitation. Asrar Ahmad, the station house officer of Pirbhore police station, said: “Four AISA members and 25 students, most of them boarders of Minto and Jackson hostels, have been booked under various charges of disrupting classes and intimidating the employees of the varsity.”
Pathak said AISA activists were almost ready to call off their agitation after Patna University vice-chancellor Dr Sudipto Adhikari visited the Minto Hostel and assured the students of fulfilling their demands. But they changed their mind after the Patna College authorities registered an FIR against the students.
The students’ agitation has virtually crippled the academic activities in the varsity. In the long run, it would hurt the students.
Randhir Kumar Singh, the general secretary of Patna University Teachers’ Association, said: “As per the Patna University academic calendar, the date of commencement of examination is March 25 while the result publication date is May 21. The disruption in academic activities will compel the varsity authorities to delay the examinations and result publication. If it happens, a large number of students will not be able to take admission in other universities. Some of them might not be able to appear in various competitive examinations.” Members of AISA are also concerned about such a situation. But they want the varsity officials to change their way of functioning.
Pathak said: “We are also concerned about our studies but we have no other alternative but to go for agitation because of lackadaisical approach of the varsity authorities. When the body of Chandrashekar reached the varsity neither any university official nor any teacher bothered to meet the bereaved family.” Ranjan Kumar, the state president of the students’ wing of JD (U) told The Telegraph: “There should have been peaceful agitation and negations with university authorities if students feel they have any problem.”
