SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 9: The teachers of five universities of Jharkhand have condoled the death of the first general secretary of the Federation of Universities Teachers Association of Jharkhand (FUTAJ), Dr K K Sharma, and said that with his demise an age of teachers’ movement has ended.
Outgoing president of FUTAJ Dr N K Singh, general secretary Dr Raj Kumar, Binod Bihari Mahto Koylanchal University (BBMKU) Dhanbad Teachers’ Association general secretary Dr Himanshu Shekhar Choudhary, Dr BN Singh, Kolhan University Chaibasa Teachers Association president Dr Rajendra Bharti, Sido Kanhu Murmu University (SKMU) general secretary Dr Santosh Sil, Vinoba Bhave University (VBU) Hazaribagh Teachers Association have expressed deep shock and recalled his contribution to the welfare of Bihar-Jharkhand teachers.
Dr KK Sharma (79) died on November 4 at a hospital in Patna. He retired as the HoD of physics at PK Roy Memorial College Dhanbad in 2004. He had joined in 1972.
Dr KK Sharma was the first general secretary of FUTAJ. In 2000, when Jharkhand became a separate state Prof Baban Choubey and Dr KK Sharma were elected president and general secretary respectively.
He was general secretary of Ranchi University (1990 to 1993). In 1993, when VBU Hazaribagh became a new university, Dr Sharma and Dr PK Jha were unanimously elected president and general secretary of the Teachers’ Association respectively (1993 to 2004).
Besides being an office–bearer in undivided Bihar, Dr KK Sharma was a lifetime member of the All India Universities Colleges Teachers Federation.
Dr KK Sharma shot into the national limelight in the 1990s. It was Lalu Prasad’s rule in Bihar. Dr Ranjan Yadav was ruling the roost in higher education without holding any post. He began harassing teachers in the state. All the leaders (teachers association) in Bihar kept mum but it was Dr Sharma who stood up alone and opposed without minding consequences.
“Dr KK Sharma never compromised his dedication for any post during undivided Bihar and in Jharkhand. His death is a loss for teachers in general and me personally,” said Prof GC Jha, a close associate of Dr Sharma.
Dr Jha was elected secretary of the Bihar University Teachers’ Association in 1978 and later East Zone Teachers body. Prof Jha said Dr Sharma could have elected himself but pushed him up. “Dr Sharma never hesitated in going to jail during teachers’ agitation and fought for the welfare of teachers even after retirement,” he said.
Dr PK Jha, a close associate of Dr Sharma while condoling death said he (Dr Sharma) knew university rules and regulations. Even the secretary of the department used to take his advice, he added.
