Even in one's wildest imagination one cannot picture irate teachers of the University of Dhaka pushing, shoving and trading blows against each other. But shamefully such an incident took place on Thursday last. What is particularly sickening is the fact that involved in the scuffle are senior teachers of professor ranks and one of the two hurt somewhat seriously is a professor. He ended up reportedly with a bloodied nose -- the result of a direct boxing knock out (KO) delivered by one of the opponents. People will be surprised to know that the opposing groups belong to the same pro-ruling Blue panel of teachers.
However, there is nothing to be surprised. When teachers of the country's premier university can stoop so low as to fight each other, it is irrelevant to make much of which party they belong to. Teachers have denigrated not only themselves but also the long and lofty tradition and legacy left for them to emulate by illustrious teachers like Sytendranath Basu, Mohit Lal Majumder, Ramesh Chandra Majumder, Dr. Shahidullah, Dr. Govinda Chandra Dev, Dr. Kazi Motahar Hossain, Prof. Munier Chowdhury, Prof. Abdur Razzak et al.
So disgraceful is their behaviour that it will definitely create an image crisis for the DU. People lament over the criminal activities students of that university are found to be involved in sometimes. But when internecine feuds within teachers' groups can be so venomous, what lessons do they leave for their students? Even the rivalry between teachers subscribing to different political ideologies -if those can be called ideologies at all, is maintained under the garb of courtesy in societies where people claim to be civilised enough.
But lo, DU teachers have to their credit the achievement of assaulting students from a similar meeting only months back. What was the fault of the students then? They just demanded holding of election to the Dhaka University Students Union (DUCSU). What happened to the probe committee's investigation and report?
In underdeveloped countries, parliaments at times witness physical aggression against contending parties. Such fights at times turn out to be bloody and in a rare few cases people's representatives were done to death. This happened in this country's own backyard before its independence. But teachers are scholars, not parliamentarians, who have to engage in a brawl because the opponents have virulently attacked verbally. If they cannot behave, their students are more likely to be unruly.
The problem lies with the involvement of teachers in near open politics. There is no harm if teachers subscribe to politics on ideological grounds. But politics must not be mixed with the profession one pursues as a teacher. Now teachers and the vice chancellors behave as if they are the custodians of certain brand of politics. Unless they know how to separate their professional commitment from their political belief, it is impossible for them to maintain the integrity of character so essential for the lofty job.
Politics has vitiated the academic environment in more ways than one. Not only do the student leaders of different political parties try to win over freshers by using intimidatory tactics -- only more so by the student wing of the ruling party, no matter whichever it might be at different points of time -- but also distribute favour in order to consolidate their hold. The university administration backs its own followers. The political nexus acts like a criminal gang in many cases. Even the candidate with the top score and qualification is ignored in favour of the second, third or lower choices at times of recruitment of teachers. No wonder a student has twitted, 'sonar chheler por sonar shikkhak' (after golden sons/students, now it is the turn of golden teachers).
This comment says it all. It seems the DU and by extension the nation has embarked on a retrogressive journey. No one knows where the journey will end.
