Bengal University VC wants to quit after facing harassments

In March 2020 also, the VC resigned from his post following controversy over a section of female students flaunting obscene slogans on their back, distorting songs of Tagore, on the eve of Holi. However, he took back his resignation letter after being persuaded by the government.

Claiming to be harassed by a section of students and staff members, the vice-chancellor (VC) of Rabindra Bharati University (RBU), Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhury, has recently said that he wants to be relieved of his responsibilities as soon as possible. Even after expressing concerns to the West Bengal government, Basu Roy Chaudhury, a renowned political scientist was told to continue as the VC of the university till his tenure came to an end in September.

According to media reports, the VC has clearly accepted that he had no desire to hold the post in the state-run university, given the ruckus created by a section of student union leaders and non-teaching employees.

Assured of agitators’ affiliation with the ruling TMC, Basu Ray Chaudhury, who had been the VC of RBU for four years, said, "I had informed education minister Bratya Basu about the prevailing situation on more than one occasion, and he promised to address the issue. But things have not improved. I also wrote to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee twice explaining how difficult it was getting for me to work in the face of harassment by some students and staff.”

VC harassed during protest against offline exams

Giving further details, the VC said, "A section of protesters kept banging on the door of my chamber during a protest against offline exams. On another occasion, these agitators repeatedly barged into the room protesting against the humid conditions on campus, and threatened to occupy my office during working hours every day shouting slogans.

“For some issue or the other - this group consisting of some students and staff members have been regularly harassing me. I stopped attending the office since the third week of July.” Basu Roy Chaudhury lamented that the education minister or anyone from the CMO did not reach out to him thus far to assure him that the issues raised by him were being addressed “to his satisfaction”.

VC resigned in 2020 after Holi controversy 

In March 2020 also, the VC resigned from his post following controversy over a section of female students flaunting obscene slogans on their back, distorting songs of Tagore, on the eve of Holi. However, he took back his resignation letter after being persuaded by the government.

Meanwhile, TMC MLA Tapas Roy said, "If the honourable VC has any grievance, it is better he gets it resolved by talking to the government." Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMC students' wing) state president Trinankur Bhattacharya told PTI that the top leadership of his party would never support anything that would hamper the functioning of an educational institution.

"We are in favour of students and VC resolving this issue amicably in the interests of all. The TMCP has no connection with the agitating students; it is not behind the stir. We would request the VC to reconsider his decision as we have the highest regard for him," Bhattacharya added.

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