SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Oct 17: In an unprecedented move, both warring factions of the Binod Bihari Mahto Koylanchal University (BBMKU) teachers’ bodies have mended their fences after five years.
The factions of Dr BN Singh and Dr Himanshu Shekhar Choudhary have called for unity among teachers and announced participation in the BBMKU Teachers Association election which is scheduled in November.
Teachers in BBMKU divided into factions during the first election in 2018. The election was conducted under the supervision of the state body Federation of Universities Teachers Association Jharkhand (FUTAJ) at Gandhi Seva Sadan. Dr Himanshu Shekhar Choudhary (general secretary) and Prof RK Tiwary (president) were elected.
But another group of teachers of the university also held a meeting at RSP College Jharia and formed a separate body under Dr BN Singh as the general secretary and Dr P Jha as president.
Dr Singh was the general secretary of the Vinoba Bhave University Teachers Association when BBMKU separated from it in 2017.
However, both factions have finally agreed to mend fences and participate in the 2nd election scheduled in November announced by Dr Himanshu Shekhar Choudhary.
While talking to lagatar24.com, Dr BN Singh said that both factions of teachers’ bodies are now united and would raise their voices jointly for the interest of teachers. Dr Singh said the university authorities are taking advantage of division among teachers but when demands would be put up unitedly, they would have to implement them.
“Theoretically both factions are in agreement now. If any difference is in the mind of any teacher, it would be solved by talks,” said Dr BN Singh.
Dr Singh had resigned from the post of general secretary of his faction in March 2022 after the Chancellor appointed him as finance officer. Recently, he resigned from that post too.
BBMKU TA general secretary Dr Himanshu Shekhar Choudhary said he welcomes the move of unification of the factions so that all teachers participate in the election. “I have always been in the favour of ending differences among the teachers. Unity among teachers is the requirement of strong organization and in the interest of the teachers’ community, I am personally prepared to go to any extent for this,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Universities Teachers Association Jharkhand (FUTAJ) has welcomed the move of Dr Himanshu Shekhar Choudhary and Dr BN Singh.
FUTAJ president Prof NK Singh (Sidhu Kanhu Univesity, Dumka) said that the state body had tried its best in 2018 that all teachers shun differences in BBMKU and participate in the election but had failed.
“However, it is good news that all of them have agreed to mend fences. From this step, BBMKUTA, as well as FUTAJ, would emerge even more strongly,” said Prof N K Singh.
Former retired senior professors of BBMKU have also appreciated the unification move.
“It is a benefit of the teachers’ community. There must be one union which will strongly fight for the interest of the teaching community as well as the development of the five-year-old university. Any faction of teachers union weakens the strength of the teaching community and it is necessary for the betterment of the university, teachers and students that all factions are united,” said Prof SK L Das, former dean of social science.
Prof Das pointed out that due to different factions in the union, the teachers had to face a lot of problems in the university.
