A fledgling social organisation of the Rajbanshi community has come up with demands related to the education field, which include nomination of an academic from the community for the vice-chancellor’s post of the varsity set up by the Mamata Banerjee government in Cooch Behar.
On Tuesday, members of Vishwa Rajbanshi Unnayan Mancha (VRUM), which has its head office in Jalpaiguri district, reached Sagardighi, the largest water body in the heart of Cooch Behar town,and hung festoons which displayed the demands.
“We want the state government to depute a Rajbanshi academic in the vice-chancellor’s post of Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University. There are certain other issues which the state education department and the varsity authorities should resolve so that more Rajbanshi students can access higher education,” said Himel Kanti Adhikari, a representative of VRUM.
The other demands include increase in the number of seats in postgraduate courses, more facilities for Rajbanshi students for postdoctoral research and inclusion of Rajbanshis in the executive committee of the varsity.
“Over the past few years, seats have increased in the postgraduate courses taught in the evening shift. Most are self-financed courses and poor Rajbanshi students cannot afford them. Also, those who want to pursue PhD, do not have the option to pursue it here,” added Adhikari.
This comes at a time when other Rajbanshi outfits, including political parties, have renewed a demand for statehood.
“It would be interesting to see how Trinamul and the state government handle these issues as the civic and rural elections are ahead,” said a political observer.
Former minister and veteran Trinamul leader Rabindranath Ghosh said the Mamata Banerjee has given due recognition to some of the demands of the community. Rajbanshi and Kamtapuri medium schools are coming up across the region and both these languages have been recognised by the state. Also, a development and cultural board and two language academies have been constituted for the community. Some people may try to foment tension but common people will not support them,” he said.