For them, there are the Carmicahel and Baker Hostels, where, incidentally, Hindu students aren't allowed. For the State, this has been tradition; for the Government: Why bother. Now, when a group of students from Presidency College are saying no to this segregation, political leaders have been quick to condemn it.

Ironically, the Eden Hindu Hostel's list of former boarders includes Rajendra Prasad (1902 to 1907), physicist Meghnad Saha and former Naxalite leader Ashim Chatterjee. This week, representatives of the Presidency College Students Association (PCSA), a Left-leaning group, met their principal N CMukherjee asking him to intervene. ``For quite some time we have been thinking of doing something to remove this obnoxious religious barrier from the hostel,'' says PCSA's Barnali Mukherjee. ``This time we thought we would do something concrete.'' The principal has given an assurance. ``I told the delegation that I would have to discuss the issue at the appropriate fora and later take it up with the Government,'' he told The Indian Express.

In the early days, Eden Hostel also had separate dining rooms for different castes. Legend has it that Meghnad Saha, a Vaishya, was denied a meal when he sat in the dining room meant for Brahmins. But this was done away with in the 1920s.

Several alumni of Presidency College say they aren't aware of the practice. Writer and academic Nabaneeta Dev Sen, a 1956 Presidency graduate, says: ``How is it possible that such an anachronism still prevails in a State which was a pioneer in spreading education in this country?'' she says. ``The system should be done awaywith as it's against the very ideals of the Constitution. And all Government hostels should be open to students from all communities.''

This sentiment is now being echoed by political leaders. Says Biman Bose, influential central committee member of the CPM and convenor of the party's education cell: ``I am not aware of the fact that such an agitation is going on in the college, but personally I feel that there should not be any barrier in the name of religion in relation to admission to any Government hostel for students.''

West Bengal Minister for Home (Police) Buddhadev Bhattacharya, also a former student of the college, says that the Government will have no objection if the proposal comes from the college.

``It may create problems ...if this hostel accepts students from all communities. For example, there may arise such an unhappy situation when a Muslim student offering his namaz in his room chides a boisterous Hindu room mate. But ultimately everything comes down to adjustment between two friendsand all differences are removed amicably,'' said Bhattacharya.

Congress MLA Saugata Roy, who was a student of the college in the late '60s is totally in favour of the move by the students. ``I support the agitation launched by the students. This system should go immediately.'' And if it goes, the credit will go to a group of students rather than a Left Government which has been ruling for almost two decades.