Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, November 26
From the next year, students of all schools in Kolkata as well as their counterparts all over India will take an oath on November 19 every year against vandalism of monuments and will pledge to protect them.
The Union ministry of culture has decided to involve school students in the campaign against vandalism of monuments and as a part of this initiative the oath taking ceremony will be organised in schools across India every year. A symbolic beginning was made this year itself with schoolchildren in Delhi taking the oath at Red Fort on November 19. World Heritage Week is celebrated from November 19 to 25, every year to create awareness about the rich cultural heritage of the country.
According to the new plan approved by the minister of tourism and culture Ambika Soni, schools will be requested to administer the oath on its premises and organise at least one visit of their students to a heritage monument during World Heritage Week. In addition, schools would also be asked to organise several outreach events like painting contests, debate, essay contests, cultural programmes on the theme of monuments and our heritage. Besides, talks on preservation of monuments will also be held in schools. Archaeologists from the Archaeological Survey of India will be instructed by the government to render necessary help to the schools in arranging this oath taking ceremony and also organising student visits to heritage monuments every year.
The state school education minister Partha De has welcomed this initiative. “Though my department has not received any such circular yet, we welcome this step and appreciate the measure. The students need to know the importance of our monuments and this initiative would be a step towards ensuring that,” he said.
The aim of the oath would be to make students realise that scribbling on a national monument is a bad practice and needs to be stopped. It would also prepare them to take all necessary steps to protect the monuments by understanding its heritage value. However, some teachers feel it would not make students realise the importance of a monument. “It is a good gesture but students would consider it routine work and would forget about it. On the contrary, if it is made a part of the curriculum and thus a part of their everyday life it would help. If we can make children realise the importance of monuments, then ten years from now when they grow up they would not vandalise them,” said Dipak Das, general secretary of West Bengal Government School Teachers’ Association.
Some teachers, though, are hopeful that the exercise would help students to understand the importance of monuments. “They are the future guardians of our heritage. It is a wonderful idea and though it may be a very small gesture, somewhere deep down they will carry this information all their life and would never get involved in vandalism of monuments,” said Sharmila Bose, principal of Birla High School for Girls.
Mou.Chakarborty@hindustantimes.com
The oath:
I will not scribble on, deface or encroach upon any monument
I will respect all monuments, which are a part of my country’s heritage
I will render all possible help to conserve and preserve our heritage
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Chief Minister appeals for communal harmony
Mou Chakraborty and Rakeeb Hossain
Kolkata, November 26
The Left Front government in West Bengal won’t tolerate anyone trying to destabilise communal harmony in the state. Such people would be thrown out from the state, said chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee amid controversy and criticism over the West Bengal government’s stand on the Taslima issue and the agitations in Kolkata.
He was attending a function organised by West Bengal Minority Development and Finance Corporation (WBMDFC) on Monday. “What we just do not want is trouble over religion and caste here. If that happens, it will be dangerous and will spell doom. This is not the culture in West Bengal. We have stayed together hand in hand and will always stay that way. I ask those who want to create a rift between us to get lost,” said Bhattacharjee, sending a strong signal that his government was in no mood to surrender to communal forces.
The chief minister added, “We want equal rights for minorities and our government wants you (read Muslims) to come forward, get educated and do well in life. We love Rabindranath Tagore not because of he was Bramho but because he was great poet. Similarly, we love Nazrul not because he was Muslim, but because of his great poetry.”
Bhattacharhjee, however, accepted that the condition in general for the average Muslim was not good, but attributed the problem to the madrasa education system.
“We do accept what the Sachar Committee report pointed out. It’s true that the minority community is lagging behind in almost all sectors, including getting government jobs. But that’s largely because of the education system, specially the madrasa education system. We think the madrasa education system needs to be modernised,” said Bhattacharjee. In the same breadth, he, however, added that it would be wrong to think that Muslims are completely deprived in this state.
Referring to the Sachar Committee report, Bhattacharhjee said what the committee members have not noticed is that, in West Bengal, over 83 per cent land is with poor farmers and many of them are Muslims. Moreover, he pointed out that many among the 66,000 primary schoolteachers in the state are Muslims. The same can be said about jobs in municipalities, the health sector and the police, he said.
“But it’s also true that their numbers are not very high. I can see many Muslim IAS and WBCS officers, but in the lower ranks, the numbers are much lower. And the major reason is that the not-so-well-off people of the Muslim community send their kids to madrasas where the education system is not that developed. We are working towards the development and modernisation of madrasas because along with religion, today’s youth needs to learn English and computers too,” added Bhattacharjee, while giving out educational loans to 274 needy but meritorious Muslim students at the function.
He said that in fiscal 2007-08, WBMDFC would give education loan worth Rs 82 crore of which the first installment of Rs 1.75 crore was doled out on Monday. He, however, was not in favour of quota or reservation for Muslims as he felt the fruits of reservation would go to only the creamy layer of the community as has happened with SC/ ST reservation.
letters@hinduatantimes.com
Kolkata, November 26
The Left Front government in West Bengal won’t tolerate anyone trying to destabilise communal harmony in the state. Such people would be thrown out from the state, said chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee amid controversy and criticism over the West Bengal government’s stand on the Taslima issue and the agitations in Kolkata.
He was attending a function organised by West Bengal Minority Development and Finance Corporation (WBMDFC) on Monday. “What we just do not want is trouble over religion and caste here. If that happens, it will be dangerous and will spell doom. This is not the culture in West Bengal. We have stayed together hand in hand and will always stay that way. I ask those who want to create a rift between us to get lost,” said Bhattacharjee, sending a strong signal that his government was in no mood to surrender to communal forces.
The chief minister added, “We want equal rights for minorities and our government wants you (read Muslims) to come forward, get educated and do well in life. We love Rabindranath Tagore not because of he was Bramho but because he was great poet. Similarly, we love Nazrul not because he was Muslim, but because of his great poetry.”
Bhattacharhjee, however, accepted that the condition in general for the average Muslim was not good, but attributed the problem to the madrasa education system.
“We do accept what the Sachar Committee report pointed out. It’s true that the minority community is lagging behind in almost all sectors, including getting government jobs. But that’s largely because of the education system, specially the madrasa education system. We think the madrasa education system needs to be modernised,” said Bhattacharjee. In the same breadth, he, however, added that it would be wrong to think that Muslims are completely deprived in this state.
Referring to the Sachar Committee report, Bhattacharhjee said what the committee members have not noticed is that, in West Bengal, over 83 per cent land is with poor farmers and many of them are Muslims. Moreover, he pointed out that many among the 66,000 primary schoolteachers in the state are Muslims. The same can be said about jobs in municipalities, the health sector and the police, he said.
“But it’s also true that their numbers are not very high. I can see many Muslim IAS and WBCS officers, but in the lower ranks, the numbers are much lower. And the major reason is that the not-so-well-off people of the Muslim community send their kids to madrasas where the education system is not that developed. We are working towards the development and modernisation of madrasas because along with religion, today’s youth needs to learn English and computers too,” added Bhattacharjee, while giving out educational loans to 274 needy but meritorious Muslim students at the function.
He said that in fiscal 2007-08, WBMDFC would give education loan worth Rs 82 crore of which the first installment of Rs 1.75 crore was doled out on Monday. He, however, was not in favour of quota or reservation for Muslims as he felt the fruits of reservation would go to only the creamy layer of the community as has happened with SC/ ST reservation.
letters@hinduatantimes.com
Girls outdo boys, overall CU pass rate dips
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, November 26
After besting boys in the higher secondary examination, girls have now outperformed boys in Calcutta University’s (CU) BA and BSc exams. But the bad news is that the varsity’s experiment in conducting honours’ exam in Part I itself has not yielded fruitful results.
For the first time in the history of the university, girls have outdone boys in all streams. While the percentage of girls who passed was about 5 to 10 per cent more than boys (see box), in the Part I BSc general course, the difference was almost 20 per cent. “This could be because girls are more studious than boys,” said Onkar Sadhan Adhikari, controller of exam.
While 92.01 per cent students passed the BA Part I honours exam in 2006, this year the figure has gone down to 75.69 per cent. The result is worse in the BSC honours Part I examination. While 83.91 per cent students qualified for honours in 2006, this year only 69.5 per cent have qualified.
This is the second year running that CU is conducting its exams under the 1+1+1 system. In 2006, the university conducted its Part I exam under the new system minus the honours papers. But from this year, students had to take two honours’ papers in the Part I exam. A section of the university feels it is this inclusion of honours exams in Part I, which is responsible for poor results.
Suranjan Das, pro vice-chancellor (academic) did not agree with this line of reasoning. “All universities in the country that follow the 1+1+1 pattern take honours paper exams in its first year. Apart from achieving parity at the national level, the primary reason for taking the honours exams at the end of first year was to make students serious about their attendance and also make them start studying in advance for their honours’ papers.”
However, the university is considering the sharp drop in the pass rate very seriously and would discuss the matter in its under-graduate council meeting. “We will have to find out why this has happened. As of now, we cannot pinpoint at any specific problem area. But we would look into various aspects like examination structure, question pattern, syllabus and the teaching-learning system followed currently. After discussing the matter in our under graduate council we would make the necessary reforms,” Das said.
Some teachers claimed that since the new Part I examination included two honours papers, the pressure proved to be too much on students. Also, after passing the higher secondary exam many students do not have the maturity to grasp honours’ courses in the very first year. Das, however, also disagreed on this account. “While introducing two honours’ papers in Part I exam, the board of studies for each subject upgraded the syllabus so that it could be taught within an year. However, in case of some subjects we may have to do a rethink.”
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Exam funda
No of candidates: 1.58 lakh
Last date of submission of review forms: December 17
Comparative pass percentages:
Total Pass % Girls Pass % Boys Pass %
Part I (under 1+1+1 system)
BA honours 75.69 78.69 70.4
BA general 59.2 65.15 52.88
B.Sc honours 69.5 75 64.15
B.Sc general 46.88 60.2 41.57
Part II (under 1+1+1 system)
BA honours 85.24 87.04 81.56
BA general 77.66 80.38 74.26
B.Sc honours 80.52 84.07 76.26
B.Sc general 79.79 86.1 75.82
Kolkata, November 26
After besting boys in the higher secondary examination, girls have now outperformed boys in Calcutta University’s (CU) BA and BSc exams. But the bad news is that the varsity’s experiment in conducting honours’ exam in Part I itself has not yielded fruitful results.
For the first time in the history of the university, girls have outdone boys in all streams. While the percentage of girls who passed was about 5 to 10 per cent more than boys (see box), in the Part I BSc general course, the difference was almost 20 per cent. “This could be because girls are more studious than boys,” said Onkar Sadhan Adhikari, controller of exam.
While 92.01 per cent students passed the BA Part I honours exam in 2006, this year the figure has gone down to 75.69 per cent. The result is worse in the BSC honours Part I examination. While 83.91 per cent students qualified for honours in 2006, this year only 69.5 per cent have qualified.
This is the second year running that CU is conducting its exams under the 1+1+1 system. In 2006, the university conducted its Part I exam under the new system minus the honours papers. But from this year, students had to take two honours’ papers in the Part I exam. A section of the university feels it is this inclusion of honours exams in Part I, which is responsible for poor results.
Suranjan Das, pro vice-chancellor (academic) did not agree with this line of reasoning. “All universities in the country that follow the 1+1+1 pattern take honours paper exams in its first year. Apart from achieving parity at the national level, the primary reason for taking the honours exams at the end of first year was to make students serious about their attendance and also make them start studying in advance for their honours’ papers.”
However, the university is considering the sharp drop in the pass rate very seriously and would discuss the matter in its under-graduate council meeting. “We will have to find out why this has happened. As of now, we cannot pinpoint at any specific problem area. But we would look into various aspects like examination structure, question pattern, syllabus and the teaching-learning system followed currently. After discussing the matter in our under graduate council we would make the necessary reforms,” Das said.
Some teachers claimed that since the new Part I examination included two honours papers, the pressure proved to be too much on students. Also, after passing the higher secondary exam many students do not have the maturity to grasp honours’ courses in the very first year. Das, however, also disagreed on this account. “While introducing two honours’ papers in Part I exam, the board of studies for each subject upgraded the syllabus so that it could be taught within an year. However, in case of some subjects we may have to do a rethink.”
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Exam funda
No of candidates: 1.58 lakh
Last date of submission of review forms: December 17
Comparative pass percentages:
Total Pass % Girls Pass % Boys Pass %
Part I (under 1+1+1 system)
BA honours 75.69 78.69 70.4
BA general 59.2 65.15 52.88
B.Sc honours 69.5 75 64.15
B.Sc general 46.88 60.2 41.57
Part II (under 1+1+1 system)
BA honours 85.24 87.04 81.56
BA general 77.66 80.38 74.26
B.Sc honours 80.52 84.07 76.26
B.Sc general 79.79 86.1 75.82
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Rumours force early weekend in schools
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, November 23
A day of unfounded rumours saw some schools on A.J.C. Bose Road and Park Circus closing early.
Located on Ripon Street and A.J. C. Bose Road Crossing, St Augustine’s Day School declared half day for the morning section students. Though attendance for the day section was 70 per cent, authorities allowed the students to go home from 2 pm, provided their guardians came to collect them. “All kinds of rumour like the possibility of fresh troubles and possibility of another curfew were flying around. Even parents got panicky and wanted to take their child home. Hence we decided to let the children off at 2 pm,” said C. R. Casper, rector and principal.
Heavy police and military presence in the area lead many to believe that there might be a curfew. Shritama Maity rushed to A. H. Academy at Elliot Road where her daughter studies in Class V. “I heard from my neighbours army and police have cordoned off the area and there might be a curfew. So I reached school to collect my child and found that a half-day has been declared,” Maity said. Probir Boshak, working in an office at Entally heard rumours of another rally. “Any procession brings back memories of Wednesday,” he said.
Mahadevi Birla Girls High School too fell a victim of the rumours. “We heard that some sort of rally could be organised and since our school is located in a very sensitive area we declared an early holiday,” said Malini Bhagat, principal. The school would be hosting Bombay Rockers on Sunday and are looking forward to it.
“God knows who are spreading these rumours. The area was peaceful but due to the rumourmongers we did not get much customer in the morning and afternoon,” said Karim Khan, owner of a cloth shop at Park Circus market.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, November 23
A day of unfounded rumours saw some schools on A.J.C. Bose Road and Park Circus closing early.
Located on Ripon Street and A.J. C. Bose Road Crossing, St Augustine’s Day School declared half day for the morning section students. Though attendance for the day section was 70 per cent, authorities allowed the students to go home from 2 pm, provided their guardians came to collect them. “All kinds of rumour like the possibility of fresh troubles and possibility of another curfew were flying around. Even parents got panicky and wanted to take their child home. Hence we decided to let the children off at 2 pm,” said C. R. Casper, rector and principal.
Heavy police and military presence in the area lead many to believe that there might be a curfew. Shritama Maity rushed to A. H. Academy at Elliot Road where her daughter studies in Class V. “I heard from my neighbours army and police have cordoned off the area and there might be a curfew. So I reached school to collect my child and found that a half-day has been declared,” Maity said. Probir Boshak, working in an office at Entally heard rumours of another rally. “Any procession brings back memories of Wednesday,” he said.
Mahadevi Birla Girls High School too fell a victim of the rumours. “We heard that some sort of rally could be organised and since our school is located in a very sensitive area we declared an early holiday,” said Malini Bhagat, principal. The school would be hosting Bombay Rockers on Sunday and are looking forward to it.
“God knows who are spreading these rumours. The area was peaceful but due to the rumourmongers we did not get much customer in the morning and afternoon,” said Karim Khan, owner of a cloth shop at Park Circus market.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Friday, November 23, 2007
Forced holiday for many schools near Ground Zero
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, November 22
Following Wednesday’s trouble, many schools on A.J.C. Bose Road and in the Park Circus area remained closed on Thursday. Some schools in nearby areas were open but registered poor attendance.
Pratt Memorial and St James School, both on A.J.C. Bose Road, opened in the morning but closed after roll call because of almost nil attendance. From a combined strength of 2,500, only 100 had turned up at St James and 200 girl students at Pratt Memorial.
Abhirup Murarka, the father of a Class IV student at St James, said, “Yesterday’s violence took place right in front of my son’s school. Their school bus was damaged and the area was under curfew till morning. In such a tense situation we decided against sending him to school.”
Nearby, The Frank Anthony Public School was open but attendance was low and they cancelled tests scheduled for the day. Parents of Talha Khan, a Class VI student, did not send him to school on Thursday as a car was torched in front of the school the day before. They are still undecided on whether to send him on Friday.
Other schools like St. Augustine’s Day School, Auxilium Convent, Ashok Hall, Loyala High and Mahadevi Birla Girls High School did not take any chance and declared a holiday.
“Over 2,500 students were stuck inside the school yesterday. This is a girl’s school; we have to ensure the safety of students as well as teachers. Many parents requested us not to open the school today. Just closing the main gate was no safeguard from a mob, so we asked the girls not to come,” said Malini Bhagat, principal of Mahadevi Birla Girls High School.
Both La Martiniere for Girls and Boys saw poor attendance. Only 60 per cent students turned up at Birla High School on Moira Street. Birla High School for Boys cancelled scheduled class tests. Birla School for Girls principal Sharmila Bose said, “The girls were stuck for a long time yesterday. They were tense. We knew attendance would be low today.”
Attendance was also low at the only college in the troubled zone, Lady Brabourne. “Less than half the students turned up although they had internal exams today. We have rescheduled the exams,” said principal Sanghamitra Mukherjee. On Wednesday a mob had tried to gatecrash into the college. The police had to be called in and the students left with police escort.
Assembly of God’s Church on Mullick Bazar-Park Street crossing saw a better attendance in the day session because of pre-board exams.
DPS Mega City declared a holiday, as it could not have operated buses through the curfew area in the morning. South Points Junior Section, too, did not ply bus number 6 in the morning section.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, November 22
Following Wednesday’s trouble, many schools on A.J.C. Bose Road and in the Park Circus area remained closed on Thursday. Some schools in nearby areas were open but registered poor attendance.
Pratt Memorial and St James School, both on A.J.C. Bose Road, opened in the morning but closed after roll call because of almost nil attendance. From a combined strength of 2,500, only 100 had turned up at St James and 200 girl students at Pratt Memorial.
Abhirup Murarka, the father of a Class IV student at St James, said, “Yesterday’s violence took place right in front of my son’s school. Their school bus was damaged and the area was under curfew till morning. In such a tense situation we decided against sending him to school.”
Nearby, The Frank Anthony Public School was open but attendance was low and they cancelled tests scheduled for the day. Parents of Talha Khan, a Class VI student, did not send him to school on Thursday as a car was torched in front of the school the day before. They are still undecided on whether to send him on Friday.
Other schools like St. Augustine’s Day School, Auxilium Convent, Ashok Hall, Loyala High and Mahadevi Birla Girls High School did not take any chance and declared a holiday.
“Over 2,500 students were stuck inside the school yesterday. This is a girl’s school; we have to ensure the safety of students as well as teachers. Many parents requested us not to open the school today. Just closing the main gate was no safeguard from a mob, so we asked the girls not to come,” said Malini Bhagat, principal of Mahadevi Birla Girls High School.
Both La Martiniere for Girls and Boys saw poor attendance. Only 60 per cent students turned up at Birla High School on Moira Street. Birla High School for Boys cancelled scheduled class tests. Birla School for Girls principal Sharmila Bose said, “The girls were stuck for a long time yesterday. They were tense. We knew attendance would be low today.”
Attendance was also low at the only college in the troubled zone, Lady Brabourne. “Less than half the students turned up although they had internal exams today. We have rescheduled the exams,” said principal Sanghamitra Mukherjee. On Wednesday a mob had tried to gatecrash into the college. The police had to be called in and the students left with police escort.
Assembly of God’s Church on Mullick Bazar-Park Street crossing saw a better attendance in the day session because of pre-board exams.
DPS Mega City declared a holiday, as it could not have operated buses through the curfew area in the morning. South Points Junior Section, too, did not ply bus number 6 in the morning section.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Session change plan delayed
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, November 22
The school education minister Partha De’s desire to change the current academic session from May-April to January-December may not happen soon.
According to sources, differences of opinion between the minister and CPI(M)s education cell has not been thrashed out and the matter has been referred to the party’s state secretariat.
The education cell headed by former school education minister Kanti Biswas felt that if the session begins from January students would not stand to benefit. The main argument forwarded by De is that the proposed January-December session would add more days to the academic calendar. Teachers would thus have more time to complete the syllabus.
According to the circular issued by the state all government schools and aided institutions should have 200 teaching days in an academic session. But the present April-May session sees most schools managing 132 to 140 teaching days. This is mainly because the new session begins on May 1, which is a holiday and after 12 days of class the one-month summer vacation begins.
Teachers feel that if students get so many holidays at the beginning of the academic session his zeal for studying suffers. With most of the districts affected by flood during the rainy season classes and studies take a back seat. After few more days of class the Durga Puja vacation begins which is followed by half-yearly exams and pre test. If the session begins in January the school education department feels that most of the schools will be able to conduct classes for 175 to 200 days.
The state had a January-December academic session but it changed to April-May in he late 80’s. Despite De and several non-CPI(M) teachers organisations agreeing to the change, both Biswas and the representatives from ABTA, ABPTA and SFI in the core committee of CPI(M)s education cell too could not agree with the minister.
“We do not think this to be the right way to solve the problem,” said a member of the education cell on condition of anonymity. It may be noted that the five-member expert committee formed by the government for this purpose too could not unanimously agree to De’s view.
The committee is yet to present its report to the government. With the kind of opinion divide between De and his party colleagues it seems that the government will have to take a longer time to take a final decision.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, November 22
The school education minister Partha De’s desire to change the current academic session from May-April to January-December may not happen soon.
According to sources, differences of opinion between the minister and CPI(M)s education cell has not been thrashed out and the matter has been referred to the party’s state secretariat.
The education cell headed by former school education minister Kanti Biswas felt that if the session begins from January students would not stand to benefit. The main argument forwarded by De is that the proposed January-December session would add more days to the academic calendar. Teachers would thus have more time to complete the syllabus.
According to the circular issued by the state all government schools and aided institutions should have 200 teaching days in an academic session. But the present April-May session sees most schools managing 132 to 140 teaching days. This is mainly because the new session begins on May 1, which is a holiday and after 12 days of class the one-month summer vacation begins.
Teachers feel that if students get so many holidays at the beginning of the academic session his zeal for studying suffers. With most of the districts affected by flood during the rainy season classes and studies take a back seat. After few more days of class the Durga Puja vacation begins which is followed by half-yearly exams and pre test. If the session begins in January the school education department feels that most of the schools will be able to conduct classes for 175 to 200 days.
The state had a January-December academic session but it changed to April-May in he late 80’s. Despite De and several non-CPI(M) teachers organisations agreeing to the change, both Biswas and the representatives from ABTA, ABPTA and SFI in the core committee of CPI(M)s education cell too could not agree with the minister.
“We do not think this to be the right way to solve the problem,” said a member of the education cell on condition of anonymity. It may be noted that the five-member expert committee formed by the government for this purpose too could not unanimously agree to De’s view.
The committee is yet to present its report to the government. With the kind of opinion divide between De and his party colleagues it seems that the government will have to take a longer time to take a final decision.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Shaken and Stirred
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, November 21
As parts of the city burned school students bore the brunt of violence. The problem worsened as many schools gave over between 11.30 am 1.30 pm when the trouble was at its peak in Park Circus connector, Beniapukur area, Ripon Street, A. J. C Bose Road and Moulali.
Many students were stuck in their institutions for over 5 hours. The horror for many students began with a school bus being attacked outside St James’ School on A.J.C. Bose Road. With broken bottles and tube lights littering the road, neighbouring Pratt Memorial students stayed put inside their institution. Students of St Augustine’s Day School located on A.J.C. Bose Road and Rippon Street crossing suffered from headaches thanks to tear gas shells lobbed by the police to prevent the mob from entering the school premises.
“This is for the first time I am witnessing such pandemonium in the heart of the city. The children were scared and with the violence right outside we decided not to release them unless parents arrived,” said T. Ireland, principal of St. James’. Students of La Martiniere for Boys and Girls got stranded.
One of the worst affected was the students of Mahadevi Birla Girls High School located near Park Circus connector. The authorities shut the main gate and teachers stood behind as shields. “This is a girls school and we have to ensure the safety of students and teachers. The children were hungry but we were helpless. We will keep our school closed on Thursday,” said Malini Bhagat, vice-principal. Anticipating trouble and due to a curfew from 10 pm to 6 am many schools with early morning sessions have already declared a holiday on November 22.
South Point Junior section called back its bus number 6, which had to go through Park Circus area. “There were 40 students inside the bus and we called it back,” said Madhu Kohli, principal of the junior section.
Students of Lady Brabourne College also were targeted with stones being thrown inside. The mob also tried to break down the gate, which was closed. “Fortunately they could not enter but they had trouble in mind. I called up the police,” said principal Sanghamitra Mukherjee. Students with stepped out with police escort after the army was deployed in the area.
St. Xavier’s College did not allow any of its students to leave. Harried parents also were a tense lot with many phoning up schools. Chitto De came from his office at Salt Lake to collect his son from St. James’. When he could not be spotted, De broke down. School authorities explained his son was released as his wife had asked their neighbour to collect him. “I stay in Park Circus and since the network was jammed I could not contact my wife,” De said.
Rikdha Murarka, who was stuck with her daughter inside Pratt Memorial for three hours lashed out at the police. “This is nothing but police inaction. If a violent mob throws stones and bottles the police is expected to control it. The mob was not armed,” she said.
Even schools and colleges away from the troubled zone did not take any chance. Birla High, Ashok Hall, Laxmipat Singhania Academy, Modern High, Loreto House, Heritage School, DPS decided not to release students unless parents come to collect them. The school buses were also held back.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, November 21
As parts of the city burned school students bore the brunt of violence. The problem worsened as many schools gave over between 11.30 am 1.30 pm when the trouble was at its peak in Park Circus connector, Beniapukur area, Ripon Street, A. J. C Bose Road and Moulali.
Many students were stuck in their institutions for over 5 hours. The horror for many students began with a school bus being attacked outside St James’ School on A.J.C. Bose Road. With broken bottles and tube lights littering the road, neighbouring Pratt Memorial students stayed put inside their institution. Students of St Augustine’s Day School located on A.J.C. Bose Road and Rippon Street crossing suffered from headaches thanks to tear gas shells lobbed by the police to prevent the mob from entering the school premises.
“This is for the first time I am witnessing such pandemonium in the heart of the city. The children were scared and with the violence right outside we decided not to release them unless parents arrived,” said T. Ireland, principal of St. James’. Students of La Martiniere for Boys and Girls got stranded.
One of the worst affected was the students of Mahadevi Birla Girls High School located near Park Circus connector. The authorities shut the main gate and teachers stood behind as shields. “This is a girls school and we have to ensure the safety of students and teachers. The children were hungry but we were helpless. We will keep our school closed on Thursday,” said Malini Bhagat, vice-principal. Anticipating trouble and due to a curfew from 10 pm to 6 am many schools with early morning sessions have already declared a holiday on November 22.
South Point Junior section called back its bus number 6, which had to go through Park Circus area. “There were 40 students inside the bus and we called it back,” said Madhu Kohli, principal of the junior section.
Students of Lady Brabourne College also were targeted with stones being thrown inside. The mob also tried to break down the gate, which was closed. “Fortunately they could not enter but they had trouble in mind. I called up the police,” said principal Sanghamitra Mukherjee. Students with stepped out with police escort after the army was deployed in the area.
St. Xavier’s College did not allow any of its students to leave. Harried parents also were a tense lot with many phoning up schools. Chitto De came from his office at Salt Lake to collect his son from St. James’. When he could not be spotted, De broke down. School authorities explained his son was released as his wife had asked their neighbour to collect him. “I stay in Park Circus and since the network was jammed I could not contact my wife,” De said.
Rikdha Murarka, who was stuck with her daughter inside Pratt Memorial for three hours lashed out at the police. “This is nothing but police inaction. If a violent mob throws stones and bottles the police is expected to control it. The mob was not armed,” she said.
Even schools and colleges away from the troubled zone did not take any chance. Birla High, Ashok Hall, Laxmipat Singhania Academy, Modern High, Loreto House, Heritage School, DPS decided not to release students unless parents come to collect them. The school buses were also held back.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
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