The hok kolorob Movement is a series of protests by the
student of Jadavpur University in Kolkata, that began on September 3, 2014. The
term “Hok Kolorob” literally means “let there be cacophony” was originally a
song by Bangladeshi singer Arnob and it began to be used as hashtag on
Facebook. This movement was the result of laxity in the investigation of an
alleged case of molestation on campus and police brutality on unarmed students
taking part in a non-violent sit in demonstration.
The goals of the movement
was an unbiased, transparent, fast investigation of the allegation with
appropriate legal committee according to vishakha guidelines, and resignation
of the vice chancellor.
The methods of
movement were Demonstrations, internet activism, hashtag activism. On 16th
September 2014, a peaceful demonstration by students took place in front of the
administrative building of the University, demanding an investigation into the
molestation of a female student in campus.
Following several unsuccessful
attempts at dialogue with the authorities, the student’s gheraoed some
personnel of the university authority including the vice-chancellor, Abhijit
Chakraborty, as a result The Vice-Chancellor called the police. The subsequent
police brutality unleashed upon the students in the early hours of September 17th,
40 students were injured and 37 students were arrested.
Criticism of the police
brutality included that police used baton charge on a peaceful demonstration,
that female were manhandled and molested by male police officers, and several
men not in uniform attacked the students. The student insists that they were
Trinamool Congress cadres.
The official position of the Kolkata Police was that
“minimum lawful force” applied to escort the Vice-Chancellor and other members
of the committee out of the university. Demonstrations showing solidarity with
the students started in Kolkata and across India including Delhi, Mumbai,
Hyderabad, and Bangalore.
In Delhi the protest movement was organized by the
students of JNU and in Bangalore the protest movement was organized by the
students from various colleges and universities in town hall which includes the
students from Kolkata and the ex students of Jadavpur itself, also the ex
students of jadavpur who were at different parts of the world also protested in
their own way through social media against this police brutality over the
students, even in 20 cities in abroad the
students organized protest movement regarding this jadavpur issue and that turn
this protest into a “global protest”.
A big rally happened on 20th
September from Nandan to Rajbhaban, over 1 lack students from various colleges
of the city, many eminent personalities like Anjan Dutta, Swastika Mukherjee,
Sumon Mukhopadhay participated in the rally, at the end of the rally 5 student
representative met Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.
The protest have been marked
with a strong cultural flavor, students have been singing and arranging diverse
cultural manifestation throughout the days of protest it includes posters,
graffiti, street plays and performances dotting the university campus and
street of Kolkata.
During the puja the students carry forward their protest
movement in front of Maddox square. During the convocation of Jadavpur
University the students refused to take their degree certificate as their
demand of resignation of the Vice-Chancellor was not fulfilled.
Getasree Sarkar
(first class first) student of jadavpur refused to take her degree from the
governor, in this way they continued their peaceful protest. After that some of
the students participated in hunger strike protest, one of the student was
hospitalized and it was the final hit in the coffin as a result of this on 12th
January the chief minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee declares at JU that
the Vice-Chancellor Mr. Abhijit Chakraborty is resigning from his post. This
led to the victory of independent student protest that was happening in JU and
also in many cities in India and across the world from past 5 months.
SAPTAK NAG
Msc.Media || PG:1
