SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Dec 21: The casteism slur levelled by a teacher has snowballed Binod Bihari Mahto Koylanchal University (BBMKU) Dhanbad Teachers Association election result into a major controversy.
The election was held yesterday only for five vice-president posts. President, general secretary, five secretaries and treasurer had been elected unopposed on December 4.
Dr Khalkho alleges casteism
Dr Niteesha Khalkho, secretary of BSK College Maithon within 5 hours of vice- president post’s result announcement, alleged that casteism ruled the roost in the poll. Upper caste teachers led the defeat of a Dalit candidate, she added.
For five posts of vice-president, six candidates were in the fray. Dr Manohar Majhi of KB College, Bermo, who got the lowest 74 votes, was defeated in the election.
Dr Niteesha Khalkho had formed G-5, including Dr Manohar Majhi to grab all five posts. She campaigned for the G-5 in all 13 constituent colleges of Dhanbad and Bokaro. Other four candidates, Dr Anamika Kujur (84) of RSP College, Dr Kiroom Rashmi Topno (85) of PK Roy Memorial College, Dr Rampravesh Kumar (76) of Chas College and Dr Avinash Kumar (90) of RS More College Govindpur won.
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Dr Sarmistha Acharyya of Sindri College Sindri was the 5th winner for the VP post. Her victory surprised the teachers of the university as she was the lone 2008 batch candidate and campaigned alone.
“We are not surprised at all over the victory of Dr Acharyya. We knew the caste equations and hatred of the upper caste towards marginalized people. We know Dalit people (teachers) who are around us and who are not with us. We know marginalized people are historically cheated and betrayed by resourceful people. We shall fight and win”, commented Dr Khalkho over the victory of Dr Acharyya.
Professors refute claims of Dr Khalkho
Dr DK Singh and Dr Amulya Suman Beck who were elected unopposed president and general secretary respectively denied the allegation of Dr Khalkho in strong words.
“I am aghast from casteism charge on election. Teachers’ community should not be dragged in caste politics, ” said Dr DK Singh.
General secretary Dr Beck said he does not believe in casteism and it is her personal view. We must think above caste on the campus. Dr DK Singh of Bokaro Steel City College and Dr Masuque Ahmed of the PG department had also filed nominations but they withdrew their names. “I wanted that they should have contested in the interest of teachers community”, said Dr Beck.
A retired professor said teachers and their leaders always worked above casteism. In 2013 VBU Hazaribagh Teachers Association election, three candidates, Dr BN Singh, Dr Sarita Srivastava and Dr Vijay Kumar, were in the fray for the general secretary post. Late Dr KK Sharma, who was an undeclared kingmaker, campaigned against his caste candidate openly.
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