By Alok Barik

Balasore: It has produced scholars, scientists, filmmakers and medical experts who have earned recognition at national and international levels. For generations, Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore has been more than an educational institution; it has been a centre of academic excellence and a source of pride for North Odisha. Yet, behind its illustrious legacy lies a campus struggling with crumbling infrastructure, inadequate facilities and years of alleged official neglect.

Established in 1944 as Balasore College, the institution was renamed Fakir Mohan College in 1949. It attained autonomous status on September 22, 1999. Today, more than 3,500 students are enrolled in its arts, science and commerce streams, besides vocational courses.

Its alumni include Padma Shri awardees Manoj Das, cinematographer Abhiram Kishore Behera and gastroenterologist Professor Subrat Acharya, besides internationally acclaimed astrophysicist Professor Jayant Narlikar. The institution has also produced several other distinguished personalities who have made their mark in different fields.

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However, the college's present condition stands in sharp contrast to its glorious past. Students continue to grapple with inadequate toilet facilities, while the absence of a modern canteen adds to their difficulties. The two existing canteens are reportedly in a dilapidated condition. The situation is equally grim in the hostels, where ageing buildings, leaking roofs and poor maintenance have made life difficult for boarders, particularly during the rainy season.

The issue recently found a voice in the Assembly, with Balasore MLA Manas Kumar Dutta urging the government to prioritise the institution's development. He sought a permanent principal, modernisation of classrooms and improvement of hostels, canteens and toilets. Higher Education Minister SuryabanshiSuraj assured that necessary modernisation work would be undertaken through a government-engaged third-party agency. A permanent principal has since been appointed, but other promised interventions are yet to take shape.

Principal Ranjan Ray said the college was yet to receive any official communication from the Higher Education Department regarding the proposed infrastructure upgrades. With limited funds, even routine maintenance remains a challenge. The college spends around Rs 30,000-40,000 annually from its own funds to clear grass from the playground, he said.

Dutta has assured the principal that he would visit the campus and prepare a list of the pressing issues.

For an institution that once shaped generations of achievers, restoring its dignity should not remain another promise on paper.