Kolkata, 22 September
Kolkata Law College Row: Muslim Professor Says She Was Forced to Resign, ABVP Performs ‘Purification’ Ritual
A dispute over attendance requirements at Kolkata’s Surendranath Law College escalated on September 11 after Vice-Principal and teacher-in-charge Mohammadi Tarannum said she was pressured to sign a resignation letter following a prolonged student protest.
After Tarannum left the college under police protection, a group of students associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) entered her office, lit incense sticks and sprinkled Ganga water, describing the act as a “purification” of the premises. Kolkata Law College Row Muslim Professor Says She Was Forced to Resign, ABVP Performs ‘Purification’ Ritual
Dispute over attendance requirement
The dispute began over the attendance requirement for students appearing in semester examinations. According to reports, a section of students had not met the required attendance criteria and protested against being barred from appearing for the examinations.
Tarannum said she was enforcing the attendance rules as part of her responsibilities. She alleged that students surrounded her office for around 23 hours and pressured her to sign a resignation letter. Kolkata Law College Row Muslim Professor Says She Was Forced to Resign, ABVP Performs ‘Purification’ Ritual
She also alleged that she was subjected to abusive and offensive remarks during the protest.
However, a student involved in the agitation denied that Tarannum had been pressured, saying her allegations were false.
Tarannum disputes resignation
Although Tarannum signed a resignation letter on September 11, she later told reporters that she had signed it under pressure.
She subsequently emailed the government and publicly repudiated the resignation. Reports said she intended to return to the college and continue performing her duties.
The status of the resignation has remained unclear, with reports indicating that the Higher Education Department had not confirmed its acceptance.
ABVP-linked students perform ritual
After Tarannum left the campus under police protection, students associated with ABVP entered her chamber and performed what they described as a purification ritual.
They lit incense sticks and sprinkled Ganga water inside the office. ABVP-linked students also demanded her resignation.
The incident drew attention because Tarannum is a Muslim and the ritual took place immediately after she left the office.
College governing body seeks government intervention
The governing body of Surendranath Law College is headed by BJP MLA Kaustav Bagchi.
Bagchi said complaints had been made against Tarannum and that he had forwarded the matters to the Higher Education Department. He also raised concerns about the college’s attendance-recording system.
The Higher Education Department had not publicly clarified the final status of Tarannum’s resignation at the time of the reports. Kolkata Law College Row Muslim Professor Says She Was Forced to Resign, ABVP Performs ‘Purification’ Ritual
Tarannum has been associated with the college for several years and has held the vice-principal and teacher-in-charge positions since 2007, according to The Wire.