When all other forms of protest failed, students of Jadavpur University in West Bengal underook an indefinite hunger strike early last week to demand the resignation of the varsity’s vice chancellor. Now, some days later, victory is theirs. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday reportedly asked vice chancellor Abhijit Chakrabarti to step down.
Banerjee visited the Jadavpur University campus to speak to the students on hunger strike. On a fast for more than six days, three of the students had been sent to the hospital, and many others were reported to be critically unwell and under doctor’s supervision on the campus.
As the chief minister reached the university, the students started chanting the slogan of their movement, “Hok kolorob” (let there be noise) . She asked for seven days to look into the matter but, according to students, news suddenly spread on campus that Banerjee has asked Chakrabarti to resign.
Sit-ins and rallies
The agitation erupted September, when some students peacefully demonstrating against the authorities’ apathy over a student’s molestation on campus were beaten up by the police. Since then, students have organised sit-ins and rallies. They boycotted classes as well as the convocation.
All along, the state government’s interventions proved insufficient, as Chakrabarti dug in his heels. “The movement is directionless,” Chakrabarti told The Times of India recently. “The protest is directed against a person and they are trying to malign me” Finally, nearly a dozen students began fasting unto death.
While students are happy that one of their demands has been met, they still want a fair investigation into the molestation case as well as the police violence.
Joy and resolve
“The atmosphere here is electric and everyone is in tears,” said Anwesha Dhar, a student of English who participated in the sit-ins. “Our long-standing demand has finally been accepted and the moment is worth celebrating. The vice chancellor is finally on his way out.”
Other students said their movement is just beginning. “The vice chancellor has resigned, but our other demands still stand,” Nilanjana Majumder, a student of literature, told Scroll.in. “We will not rest until all other demands are met and normalcy is restored on our beloved campus.”
According to the Twitter handle of Mamata Banerjee’s party Trinamool Congress, Chakrabarti quit voluntarily.
Banerjee visited the Jadavpur University campus to speak to the students on hunger strike. On a fast for more than six days, three of the students had been sent to the hospital, and many others were reported to be critically unwell and under doctor’s supervision on the campus.
As the chief minister reached the university, the students started chanting the slogan of their movement, “Hok kolorob” (let there be noise) . She asked for seven days to look into the matter but, according to students, news suddenly spread on campus that Banerjee has asked Chakrabarti to resign.
Sit-ins and rallies
The agitation erupted September, when some students peacefully demonstrating against the authorities’ apathy over a student’s molestation on campus were beaten up by the police. Since then, students have organised sit-ins and rallies. They boycotted classes as well as the convocation.
All along, the state government’s interventions proved insufficient, as Chakrabarti dug in his heels. “The movement is directionless,” Chakrabarti told The Times of India recently. “The protest is directed against a person and they are trying to malign me” Finally, nearly a dozen students began fasting unto death.
While students are happy that one of their demands has been met, they still want a fair investigation into the molestation case as well as the police violence.
Joy and resolve
“The atmosphere here is electric and everyone is in tears,” said Anwesha Dhar, a student of English who participated in the sit-ins. “Our long-standing demand has finally been accepted and the moment is worth celebrating. The vice chancellor is finally on his way out.”
Other students said their movement is just beginning. “The vice chancellor has resigned, but our other demands still stand,” Nilanjana Majumder, a student of literature, told Scroll.in. “We will not rest until all other demands are met and normalcy is restored on our beloved campus.”
According to the Twitter handle of Mamata Banerjee’s party Trinamool Congress, Chakrabarti quit voluntarily.
Vice Chancellor of Jadavpur University has expressed his desire to resign, WB CM announces as students greet CM with thundering applause
— AITC (@AITCofficial) January 12, 2015Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!