Kajal: First Female Teacher in Presidency College

This is the story of a woman who joined the world of academics with unwavering determination and perseverance. Her name is not easily found in the history of post-independence Bengal. Also, the events in her life are not fully traceable, at least to me. However, she left a fascinating legacy that women's studies researchers may find intriguing. She is Ms Kajal Sengupta (1931−2006), the first female teacher in the legendary Presidency College, Kolkata. The history of teaching English literature in this college goes back to 1828 when Presidency College was known as Hindu College. Since then, the Department of English is bestowed with a long list of eminent teachers and students who have contributed to the development of English studies in this country. Till the mid-twentieth century, this college had only male professors although many of them were involved in women’s emancipation and liberation. Women could only enter Presidency College as students or researchers. Naturally boys outnumbered girls, but the latter still had a visible presence. But Presidency stood by its great quality of education. The female students equally excelled in studies like their male counterparts. In beginning of 1950s, two of the girl students from this college became toppers in their BA and MA examinations under the university. Presidency nurtured some notable women thinkers from Bengal like Ketaki Kushari Dyson, Sukumari Bhattacharji, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak or Sipra Sarkar.

By 1950s West Bengal saw several women from middle-class families coming out of the periphery of their homes. Partition, influx of people, unemployment among male members were all factors contributing to their decision to work. The other part was expansion in girls’ education. More girls joined schools and colleges for formal education, and they wanted to work in different sectors which were earlier thought to be places for men. Teaching was the first preference for educated women as they thought it would provide them with social respect and security. In Kolkata, suburbs and the villages, women started working as schoolteachers in girls’ schools. However, their entry in the higher institutes of learning as teachers was more restricted and it took more time to open. With the formation of the History Department at Jadavpur University in 1957, Sipra Sarkar (1931−2008), daughter of well-known historian Professor Sushovan Sarkar, joined as a lecturer. Ms Sarkar, like her father, was an excellent teacher who was greatly admired by her students. With the appointment of Ms Kajal Sengupta, Presidency entered that history. A student of Loreto House and Loreto College, which were culturally far distant from Presidency College, she went to the University of Oxford on a state scholarship following her MA English examination at the University of Calcutta. She returned from the UK in 1958 and joined Presidency College one year later in 1959. A woman could finally sit in the glorious teachers’ room of the college. A frail lady figure in white cotton saree and with spectacles, she quickly became Kajal-di to everyone associated with the college. Principal Professor Sanat Kumar Basu (1958–1967) requested the first lady faculty member to dress conservatively so students could take her example with respect. She listened to that advice till the day of her retirement in 1996. She never wore anything other than white saree and blouse in the campus. Of course, outside of college, she was free to drink and smoke as she pleased. But the college premises gifted her a sense of being ethical to the principles set by the legendary teachers of her time. She was also requested to use the bathroom in the girls’ common room as initially there was no separate washroom for lady teachers. Her teaching method was simple; she encouraged her students to question and contradict her once she explained a topic to them. One of her students Bhaswati Chakravorty reminisced about her, “Kajal-di inspired an enthusiasm for texts and a desire to explore them, and discouraged shortcuts to excellence.” A woman with an indomitable spirit, she always remained always loyal to her responsibilities as a teacher. Years after years her students enjoyed and admired her classes and her good sense of humour. Towards the end of her life she withdrew herself from all contacts of her students and even friends. No one could convince her to be back in a world of socialisation as that was the life she desired and maintained till the day she passed away in 2006.

Source:

1. Discussion with Professor Shanta Dutta, Department of English, Presidency University
2. Bhaswati Chakravorty, Kajal Sengupta (1931−2006): Undaunted Spirit, The Telegraph, 1st February 2006.

Professor Kajal Sengupta in her desk at Presidency College

A view of Presidency University taken from the roof of Dwarbhanga Building, Calcutta University