Kolkata: In a historic victory for any Muslim students group in the students’ union election at Maulana Azad College of Kolkata, Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) has won a seat in the 39-member student body of the 85-year-old college. No Muslim group had ever won any seat in students’ union poll at the college.

While the Assembly election in West Bengal is round the corner, the main rival of ruling Left Front government of the state, Trinamool Congress (TMC) has got lot to cheer – its students wing Trinamul Congress Chhatraparishad (TMCP) has given a shameful defeat to the Left-led Students Federation of India (SFI) sending them out of power.

After a long time, the students union of this college will be formed by anti-SFI groups. TMCP had fought the election in alliance with SUCI led All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO). TMCP has won 24 seats while AIDSO won 8. SFI could win only 6. SIO has won one seat.

SIO had contested the poll alone. The group had fielded six candidates, but only one Md Irshad won. SIO had fought the election last year also but could not win. This year’s victory is historic in that it is the first time a Muslim body has won any seat at the college. The election was held on 9th March 2011.

‘It is significant for Muslim students’ empowerment,’ said a Muslim cleric and educationist.

State president of SIO, Md Sarwar Hasan told TCN that the purpose of contesting elections is to revive the ideal atmosphere of teaching and learning and to achieve the main objective of gaining education in the campuses. “SIO inculcates in the students the idea of creative campus, where the students are not scapegoat of petty politics but rather bring out the best within them.” He said

Maulana Azad College is a renowned and prestigious college in Kolkata as well as in West Bengal. Maulana Azad College inherits a history of progressive development since December 9, 1926, when Islamia College was founded by Lord Lytton, the then Governor of Bengal, as a culmination of sustained efforts of contemporary Muslim leaders like A. K. Fazul Haq, Syed Nawad Ali Choudhury and Sir Abdul Rahim. The object was to promote Islamic learning and general education among the Muslim subjects of British India. Immediately after independence, the College was renamed as Central Calcutta College and its door was made open to all students irrespective of caste, creed and religion. In 1960, the college was renamed as Maulana Azad College in memory of the great national leader and eminent scholar, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

From the very beginning the college became an affiliate of University of Calcutta. In 1996-97 the College was declared as a co-educational institution and from then on, the girls formed a significant portion of students. Near the college is a Muslim government hostel for Muslim students of this college.

Report twocircle.net