In new panel season,‘intellectuals’ refuse Mamata job offers

Sukanta Chaudhuri,the professor emeritus of Jadavpur University,who had turned down the offer to become a member of higher education committee headed by retired college professor Sunanda Sanyal,later accepted the advisory role in the mentor board of Presidency University.

While the reason in most of the refusal stems from the intellectuals’ allegiance to the Left Front,others have cited lack of transparency and adequate brainstorming behind their decision to turn down the offer.

Sankha Ghosh,who was offered the deputy chairman post of Presidency committee,said: “There’s a lack of coordination,proper thinking and discipline while forming these committees. I was convinced not to be a part of it.” While Nirendranath Chakravarty cited ill health behind his decision to stay away from the panel,Ghosh,however,said: “He pulled out,because I refused to join it.”

Tarun Majumdar,who used to be an integral part of the Kolkata Film Festival committee headed by former CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in the past,has also refused a position in the new advisory committee set up for the festival. While initially he cited work-related pressure for his withdrawal from the committee,his disapproval for the same could be figured out from his opinions on its constitution. “There are already too many people in it. Let’s just hope that it doesn’t turn out to be a case of ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’,” he said.