A Tamil Nadu university’s decision to suspend a student with leucoderma — an autoimmune disorder that leads to white patches on the skin — is a reminder of the deep roots ignorance and insensitivity have struck in the social terrain of India. One day after he joined a B. Tech course at the Kalasalingam University in Virudhunagar district, 18-year-old Ayyappan was asked to leave the institution as parents of other students had apparently objected to his presence in the class. Leucoderma, medically referred to as vitiligo, is not a contagious condition; people coming in contact with such a person run no risk of getting infected. Unfortunately, leucoderma is often confused for leprosy as white patches are seen on the skin of people with leprosy. There is more confusion in Tamil Nadu, as vitiligo is often referred to as ‘white leprosy’ (‘ven kushtam’ and ‘ven kuttam’). But the nature of the white patch is very different in both these cases. While a complete absence of melanin pigment, which gives human skin a brownish hue, causes the white patch in the case of leucoderma, a depletion of the pigment causes the white patches in leprosy. Loss of sensation and the dry nature of the patches are further indications of leprosy. Moreover, leprosy is contagious only in the untreated lepromatous form; other forms are not contagious as the bacilli remain in the nerves.
Even if the students and their parents were unaware of these differences, it is most unfortunate that the authorities too were grossly ignorant. More shocking is the fact that the authorities not only doubted the veracity of the medical certificate issued by a doctor from the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital vouching for the student’s condition, but never cared to obtain independent expert medical opinion before taking recourse to such a drastic step. In failing to do so, the institute unwittingly became guilty of discrimination, and in the process sent a wrong message. The Tamil Nadu government on December 27, 2010 issued an important order to abandon the use of the terms ‘ven kushtam’ and ‘ven kuttam’ to reduce the confusion and consequent stigmatisation of leucoderma patients. The university has now asked the student to rejoin his classes but this incident clearly indicates that much more has to be done to destigmatise vitiligo. Much has been written about the stigma and discrimination faced by people with HIV/AIDS and an effective government-sponsored programme has gone some way towards righting that wrong. A similar awareness drive on leucoderma is clearly needed.
Keywords: Kalasalingam University, student suspension, leucoderma
Gandhi ji was the one who actually raised a voice against certain
critical issues at that time, its time for us to be more sensitive
towards such issues. After all these years the discrimination should
have decreased but is otherwise. God help officials of the university.
The action of the Kalasalingam University in Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu suspending a B.Tech student with leucoderma deserves to be condemned in harshest words. The university has not only demonstrated its holy ignorance but has also deprived the individual of the fundamental rights conferred upon the citizens. If such is the sorry state of affairs in a university, it is anybody's imagination how the members of the ignorant society can react to such superstitious perceptions and blind faiths. The belief that leucoderma is contagious has been dispelled by the medical fraternity through scientific studies, still many choose not to believe so, defying the scientific temper and logic. But, when authorities as learned as educationalists' beliefs are rooted in grand ignorance and unscientific, we are left with no hope. Let us hope that the public outcry the incident has generated will drive common sense into the super brains of the university authorities.
Hindu has always stood for real healthy journalism. Educating people is
cornerstone of journalism rather pandering to puerile entertainment. Big
thank you to The Hindu
The mindset of people are still not unfurled. Intellect from that engineering college has shown the stagnant and filthy attitude while dealing with this sort of humanistic case. They have exhibited that they are still ruled by whim,interest and social antics rather than creativeness and rationality.
I too was having vitillago on my body when I was doing my M.Phil course. Class mates did not bother about it, but when I travel in the town bus some people hesitate to sit near me. I had the psychological feeling that I am suffering from VenKushtam. But after taking the extract of Andrographis leaves for a week my skin developed melanin pigments and now I am completely cured. Many people have come to me and I have advised them the procedure I have followed.It is the ANDROGRAPHIS that did the magic. Let this be known to everybody who have this problem .ANDROGRAPHIS in Tamil is known as SIRIANANGAI but not NILAVEMBU.The extract will be very bitter in taste. It should be taken in empty stomach.
As a citizen of India, i also feel same what the doctor has felt. This disease is not contagiousness.they should not expel him on the basis of this . the disease has to be destigmatised and allowed to enter the college to that students.
The authorities should should be asked for forgiveness .
Its not all about the discrimination, its all about the lack of
knowledge among us about the prevalent infectious and non-infectious
diseases. The decision of the committee of Kalasalingam University was
wrong that might be taken in view of incomplete knowledge about
leucoderma and not consulting with doctors about the case. Even the
educated ones of non-medical background do not have sufficient knowledge about leucoderma. So taking this case as reference,
government should launch some type of campaign for all to educate and
to differentiate among the commonly occurring disease. That will certainly help in curtailing the discrimination raised due to
different diseases.
Its pathetic to see such Educational institutions discriminate based
on skin colour.
Being a vitiligo infected person for the past few years, I can relate
to the student's plight in the college. Even though I've not faced any
personal discrimination, such practices by Educational institutions
certainly need to be condemned. These are the institutions which need
to guide the students morally in the right path. And the way they
behaved is no right path.
More awareness among the public is a must to face such terrible
practices.
This episode reflects the sad state of affairs among the educated as
well as the laity with respect to some of the skin related diseases.
While this may not be happening all over India, that this kind of issue
is still present in sections of the society is deplorable.
this is strange to hear that a student having vitiligo has been exempted from an enginnering college. shame on the society as well as
the college authorities on this step.after having so much development in the field of science and technology ,we still stick to that 16th century thought nd we are behaving like that. the goverment should take the step of awerness programme about vitiligo in society.
About two years after our marriage, my wife showed me a few minor white
patches on her arms and wrist, and this lead to great distress to both
of us for a couple of weeks. When we met our family doctor, she told
us that is known as ‘vitiligo’ in medical parlance, and is called
‘bolli’ in Telugu, and told us to see a dermatologist. The
dermatologist prescribed a few medicines and after one month the white
patches completely disappeared and they never returned in the last
forty years. My wife and I went through a sort of trauma merely due to
ignorance. One of my beloved professors was afflicted with a similar
ailment, and small white patches appeared on his face. I was taken
aback when I saw him for the first time after his persona went through
this transformation. Some of his well-wishers suggested that he go
through plastic surgery to look normal. My professor is made of
sterner stuff and is a wise well-informed man. He remained cool and
laughed it off. Knowledge is real power!
I must say thanks to the Hindu editorial picks in the last couple of
days. There have been two very critical instances been cited,
pertaining to education fiasco's at school and college levels.
However, there needs to be a display of sense by the Govt. of Tamil Nadu in this case and immediate action taken against the concerned
institution. The nonsensical action of the college authorities will
only set an ugly example of social cruelties on people with
disabilities or health issues, and also set up an entirely negative
image of the society in the expelled student's mind. The last two
articles are sad, heart touching and one would immediately want to
seek justice for the students suffering the blow.
I have vitiligo from the age of 4 but luckily I haven't come across any discrimination whether in India or abroad. It is tightly linked to diabetes genes (my dad and grand dad had mild diabetes) and I ended up with vitiligo (where is the question of contagiousness?). White skinned people (in rich countries) don't care as its not apparent on them - partly the reason why big pharma co.s haven't invested in its research as there is little business case with poorer countries. But all facts aside, India still manages to surprise us with the awareness levels.
What an inhuman act. Asking the student to rejoin doesn't remedy the wound that was inflicted by the university.Education gives broad thinking. If the educated act so narrow mindedly how do you expect them to produce well mannered students from their institution?
This story is a grim reminder of the abject ignorance and stigmatization that still prevails in our society. The discrimination made on the basis of a disease that is autoimmune, just because it partly seems to be like one apparently fatal disease, not only speak for the lack of knowledge but also counts for the absurdity of the society as a whole. Such appalling incident brings forth the insensitivity of the society towards such victims. To compound the problem, the erudite faculty of the college questioned the veracity of the medical reports that vouched the non-contagiousness of the disease. It is, now, mandatory to root out the malaise before it is too late to repent even.
It is distressingly painful to hear about such cases. Talking about progress in every field be it science, medicine, or any other ,this article stands a testimony to the obdurate attitude Indians have. All this advancement is futile if we cant learn to eradicate such discrimation based on color,caste,creed, disease etc.
It reminds me of a beautiful quote by Mahatma Gandhi
" Be the change you wish to see in the world"
Are the people of that college living in Medieval ages? Action should be taken on the authorities of the College who made the student to leave the college. Unfortunate incident in a state like Tamilnadu which is considered as one of the most advanced states of India
Thanks for valuable information for the public.What happens if one of our family members suffers with leucoderma,as is the case with my mother?We can not dream of keeping her away from us?It can happen with any one.Put yourself in the shoes of that student and think for a while it will make you tremble?The Hindu has done a great job and request to highlight more cases like this one.
In a times when man has achived so much success in almost every field specially in the field of science, its very unfortunate to see such baseless activities.Even its starange to find that its performed be educated engineering students and moreover followed by the instituation its self.its my request to take the matter wisely and don't such discrimination that will adversely affect the life of thousands of people meeting leucoderma.
Only a fully active and aware generation can help in stop such inhumane
acts in society. State government, local bodies and media should come
forward to educate people on various health related issues, by short
programs or Street Plays.
Discrimination of such type is very common. I have found myself feel reluctant, to certain extent, to socialize with friends having white patches out of fear of contagion.
However, there must be a difference between an institution and an individual. Institutions, instead of abrupt conculsion as these, could have atleast gone through the medical reports or tests (a process) and appeased the fears of the parents. Instituions should not emote individuals but function under established processes and rules. The institute should be directed to amend its procedures for social good.
It is so unfair to a student, whose wounds would not be healed by a mere apology from the university. If in such institutions these cases are so apparantly visible, what can we expect at individual levels. Eductional institutions are integral part of our society, and they should not be the part of such discrimination, as this will send a wrong message to our society.
A discrimination based on skin colour made by an academic field! WoW @ that. The T.N University has just shown the height of cruelity.
The general public opinion, and that too a baseless one, has been given precedence by the authorities over the true and actual report of the doctor in this case. It is highly regrettable that such inhumane and condemnable acts do take place in this very forward 21st century. Moreover the impact it would have on the social and emotional development of the 18 year old can only be under-estimated. People should try and shed the ignorance and dispel "heard" things. As they say "Let There Be Light".
You must emphasize that they need to make use of the opportunity to educate the
community to the best extent possible. And the boy could be a role model. It is
excellent that you have thought about spending time on this. As you say what really
were the educated Professors doing ? Were they not aware of this simple thing ?
Hopefully a lot of the students have a chance of catching up and make themselves
aware of others less fortunate.
It makes one crying in pain seeing the discrimination meted out to people on the basis which was unforseenable by our constitution makers.Caste sex,creed,race and place they could thought of but we the people have managed to create new ones and slowly new methods of discriminating has began. Not to mention the innocent school children who suffered the horror of attending classes under RTE provision it seems the social fabric of the Indian mosaic needs a mend now. Should the schools become a place for class representation?Can we create segregation for people who are maltreated cause they have or had illness which is non contagious..Isnt it a mental partition we have built?
A well-intentioned excellent editorial to dispel the persisting wrong presumption on the part of a sizeable section of the people that Leucoderma is a contageous disease and those afflicted with it should be kept at a safe distance from the rest. As rightly mentioned, it would have been prudent if the university concerned had gathered proper information in this regard from competent medical practitioners before taking the drastic step of sending the student out of the college. By re-admitting the student, the university has certainly corrected its own grievous mistake but what was really needed was strict avoidance of such mistakes.
This incident shows ignorance and insensitivity of our society.We do not
know much about HIV,Leucoderma and other diseases.So we should create
awareness in our society.The T.N. UNIVERSITY (as it looks) has taken
this decision under pressure.We need to change the mindset of the
people.
This incident goes to prove that, contrary to tall claims made by he
different parties proclaiming the egalitarian nature of the people as a
result of the dravidian movement, people in general are ignorant when
it comes to science and medicine. So what is there to boast about the
'elite' nature of the people of the state ?
As a doctor and indian citizen,I am surprised by the attitude of
brilliant students and professors toward a inocent student with
vitiligo. It is now essential that everybody who were involved in this
shameful act, should appolozise to him personally.
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