Independents' Consolidation
Independents' Consolidation is a student organization based out of Presidency University, Kolkata. It was formed in the erstwhile Presidency College and has won all but five student union elections since its formation in 1989. It describes itself as a "non-partisan independent political platform" that is not affiliated to any mainstream political party.[1]
| Abbreviation | IC |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1989 |
| Founded at | Presidency University |
| Type | Student Organisation |
| Legal status | Active |
History
The student body of Presidency University has traditionally voted for non-partisan outfits except for 1982, 2002-03, 2008-09[2] and 2019.[3] The origin of non-affiliated organizations in Presidency go back the 1960s, with the pro-naxal Presidency College Students' Consolidation. Thereafter, the Presidency College Students' Steering Committee followed a politically middle course from 1975 to the early 1980s. The Presidency College Students’ Association (PCSA), with no stated or clear links to the earlier group, came into the picture in the early 1980s.
The events at Tiananmen Square and the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1989 and 1991, respectively, had a tremendous impact on the PCSA. Differences cropped up, leading to the formation of the IC in 1989. The announced agenda of the IC was to restore campus democracy and resist campus violence. The IC broke away from radical Left politics and reflected the disillusionment over Left politics felt worldwide. Initially a centralist organization, IC’s policies changed again after the Left Front government veered towards capitalist camps from 2002. Post Singur and Nandigram violence orchestrated by the Left front, the IC became an alternative for those with Leftist tendencies. The IC claims to draw its ideological foundations from the mass uprisings like the May 68, protests in France, the Arab Spring, the Occupy movement, the Hok Kolorob Movement[4], the Anti-CAA protests, and the Anti Farm Law Movement - protests “led entirely by people forces and not political". [1]
Activities
The Independents' Consolidation has been active through both the Left regime (1989-2011) and the Trinamool Congress (2011 - present) rule in West Bengal. Except for 1982. 2002-03 and 2008-09, IC has been able to keep the ruling party at bay from the Presidency College Students' Union. Consequently, the IC has been at the receiving end of violence orchestrated by both the SFI (student wing of the CPIM) and the TMC. On February 21, 2010, a first year IC supporter was allegedly beaten up by members of SFI when winning candidates of the two organizations assembled for the formation of the college union.[5] On Janurary 21, 2012, a second-year political science student and a Eden Hindu Hostel boarder survived after slashing his wrist in face of continuous harassments by seniors owing their allegiance to the SFI.[6]
On March 18, 2014, the Independents' Consolidation organized a referendum on whether the then TMC Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Sugata Bose should continue as chairperson of the Presidency Mentor Group. Bose lost 1208 to 316. [7] This was following the 2013 TMC attack on Presidency University, where TMC activists had attacked students and rampaged the historical Baker Lab with knives, sticks and javelins.[8]Years following the BJP's rise to power in the Centre, Independents' Consolidation has been active in the Anti-CAA protests and Anti Farm Law protests.
Independents' Consolidation had been part of the Hindu Hostel movement[9] that ensured the reopening of the hostel after three years in 2019.[10]
In May, 2021, Independents' Consolidation demanded that the university authority allow the use of the campus as a safe home for non-critical patients to ease the pressure on hospital beds during the COVID-19 pandemic in West Bengal.[11] Although permissions were secured from the State Health Department, the university did not allow the project to go on.
Independents' Consolidation campaigned for the revival for admission tests in 2021, after the university shifted to admissions based on +2 marks during the pandemic. [12]
References
- ^ a b Bag, Shamik (2014-03-29). "Kolkata Chromosome | Ideas, not ideology". mint. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
- ^ Feb 1, TNN / Updated:; 2014; Ist, 01:29. "Independents Consolidation sweeps student union elections in Presidency University | Kolkata News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
{{cite web}}:|last2=has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "SFI wins Kolkata's Presidency University students' union election after a decade". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 2019-11-15. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ "PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
- ^ "One injured in Presidency clash". The Indian Express. 2010-02-21. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
- ^ Jan 21, TNN / Updated:; 2012; Ist, 16:29. "Harassed Presidency fresher slashes wrist in hostel | Kolkata News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
{{cite web}}:|last2=has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Presidency students say 'no' to Sugata Bose as head of mentor group". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
- ^ "With knives, sticks, javelins: How TMC goons attacked Presidency University-India News , Firstpost". Firstpost. 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
- ^ "Presidency students vow to continue stir over hostel". The Hindu. PTI. 2018-08-05. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Desk, Main (2018-11-26). "Presidency Reopens Hindu Hostel After Three Years". NEWSMEN. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ সংবাদদাতা, নিজস্ব. "COVID-19 | প্রেসিডেন্সি হোক সেফ হোম, আবেদন পড়ুয়াদের". www.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 2022-10-24.
- ^ "Students seek revival of Presidency University entry tests". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2022-10-24.