About Us
Research Scholars’ Association is a community of the scholars of IACS since the last five decades, formally, and an inseparable part of the scholars’ community. The best students from the leading and reputed institutions of West Bengal and other parts of India come to this institute for pursuing their doctoral studies. It’s a strong platform by the scholars, of the scholars and for the scholars.
Being the very first and one of the brightest scientific research institutes of India, IACS has produced an innumerable number of scientists, teachers, professionals, entrepreneurs, who are currently placed in prestigious and highly responsible places around the globe. The Research Scholars’ Association in its effort to bring together the entire family of past and present members has focused on this issue
History of RSA from the First General Secretary of RSA, Prof. J. K. Ray
Dear Preident, RSA, IACS
"I am pleased to accept the invitation and like to be present over there on 1 st October 2013.
Yes, we started the Research Scholars’ Association (RSA) in 1973-1974, when the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science had a very bad period of 6 months closure (Strike etc) in early 1970 followed by the Bangladesh war and load shedding almost every day for 5 hours during day time and also no one to feel the difficulties of research fellows. There was a very strong Employees Union and also Academic Staff’s Forum but no Research Scholars Association. The need was to voice Research Scholars grievances, other problems through an elected body by the research fellows and for the research fellows, although at that time research scholars strength including 4-departments of Physics(GX, Magnetism, Optics and Theoretical Physics) and 4-departments of chemistry(organic, inorganic, physical and macromolecules) was only 100, but many research fellows felt an association will help to ventilate their anger and agony and that is why it started , first from the research fellows staying in the hostel and then day scholars also joined and a committeewas formed to frame the constitution and aim of the association. There was no political colour but the election for certain positions was needed as more than one fellow filed nominations for one post. I do remember some times in 1973- 1974 the first executive committee started their activities, myself was the general secretary (uncontested) and Mr Sulapani Bhattacharya was the president.
At that time, we had a very cohesive general body meeting and the executive committee members use to listen to the difficulties of the general members and use to help as mediators with the administration when the situation so demanded.
I will mention 2- important incidences during that period, that was the centenary celebration year, Mrs Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister came to IACS and she wanted to meet the young research fellows, ( only a few) now who will select those research fellows? The administration wanted some ‘yes’ persons for that and RSA wanted their executive committee to decide who will attend that meeting, however after several deliberations and arguments and counter-arguments, a compromise consensus was reached and the celebration was done very nicely, the second incidence was we observed a day-long strike mainly because the research fellows staying in the hostel had great difficulties as the road and the surrounding lands between hostel and the association main academic building were waterlogged during the rainy season, several times the administration was informed but no action was taken, and because of this one-day token strike things moved very quickly, Metro Rail had trouble in dumpling the soil and they dumped those into those ground to make the’ low land’ to’ high land’ and now I see that problem is gone and beautiful football ground is there, which was initiated by us. RSA was also active in sending their representatives to Board/ Academic Committee that shorted out many problems including research scholars’ say in several decision-making bodies, earlier there was no representation in those groups.
I am very happy to know that small tree which was planted almost 40 years ago is now full-grown and blooming with flowers and fruits and I wish the activities of RSA will make it more popular in future also, my best wishes for healthy happy RSA."
Sincerely yours,
( J K Ray )
