Author: Sabyasachi Bandopadhyay
Publication: The Indian
Express
Date: December 19, 2000
Bowing to the strong
protest by students, the principal of the government-run Maulana Azad College
in Calcutta has transferred a Hindu bhistiwala (water carrier) from the
Elliot hostel run by the college.
The hostel set up in
1896 is meant exclusively for Muslim students. The matter is now
under the consideration of the Director of Public Instruction of the West
Bengal government.
Boarders of Elliot hostel
said they came to know about the appointment of the bhistiwala's and the
sweeper - two posts traditionally held by Muslims in the hostel - on December
1. On December 3, the students prevented the water-carrier from join
the post and warned him not to come to the hostel.
The next day, the students
submitted a memorandum to Principal Madhusudan Saha. The memorandum
pointed out the "difficulties" they would face with a 'non-Muslim' water-carrier
and a sweeper, who also works as an errand boy for the boarders.
Around six months ago,
the Hindu hostel under the government-run Presidency College (and meant
only for Hindu students) was thrown open to students from all communities
after a prolonged agitation by students. At that time there was a
demand from some students in Calcutta that the city's Baker and Elliot
hostels, which are meant only for Muslims, be thrown open for all communities.
The memorandum presented
to the principal said that most of the Elliot boarders were regular namazis
and may not like the services of a person from another religion.
They might detest the entry of a non-Muslim sweeper into the rooms that
have copies of the holy Quran Sharifs. Subsequently the principal
transferred the bhistiwala to the college.
Principal Saham said:
"I have referred the matter to the Director of Public Instruction.
Till a decision is taken, the water-carrier will be working in the college
and not in the hostel."
Amitava Chakravarthy,
state general secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Bidhyarthi Parishad, described
the attitude of the students in the hostel as "feudal". "The water-carrier
is a government employee. Religion should not be the criteria for
disqualification," he said.
