BHU’s women students

The protest in Banaras Hindu University by women students highlighting the weak security infrastructure, and which resulted in their harassment, is jarring. The development is not in line with the pledge taken by the newly elected U.P. government to prioritise women’s safety. The issue of women’s safety at educational institutions and in the workplace forms the bedrock of the commitment towards women’s empowerment. BHU finds a place in our history as a symbol of India’s advancement and this identity should not be diluted under any circumstances. The problem arises when every such protest is seen from the political point of view. The protestors just wanted a probe into an issue of rights. Dealing with this in a high-handed way is completely unjustified.

Aparajita Singh,

Lucknow

Thanks to weak and politicised university administrations, the police now have a free hand to act against students who are perceived to have “overstepped the limits” set by the authorities. The Prime Minister’s efforts to make the ‘beti bachao beti padhao’ campaign a success has taken a beating in his own parliamentary constituency, Varanasi. When Uttar Pradesh went to the polls, the buzzword was women’s safety. Issuing lathicharge orders against unarmed women students is an abuse of power that is unpardonable and speaks volumes about the insensitivity of the State administration.

Padmini Raghavendra,

Secunderabad

The violence that erupted on the prestigious BHU campus could have been averted with sensitivity, responsibility and empathy. Obviously, the incident is a direct offshoot of long-standing complaints by women students not being given the due importance they deserved. The story may as well be the same in many university campuses across the country. Girl students are viewed with preconceived notions because overbearing patriarchal mindsets have percolated to colleges and universities.

The BHU students were obviously venting pent-up anger over their legitimate requests not being addressed. It is time universities in India overhaul their medieval rules. Gender discrimination must be thrown out of the window and vice-chancellors climb down from their ivory towers. Our law protectors must also learn to be well-oiled peace keepers.

Ganapathi Bhat,

Akola, Maharashtra

The government has tried to silence the voice of students who were protesting for their rights and justice for a girl student. There seems to be no difference between free India and British India when it comes to the rights of freedom of speech and expression. Is it an offence to speak the truth? Is it wrong to ask for one’s rights and justice? What is happening in our universities across the country? Where is our country heading?

Nafis Marufi,

Kurthi Jafarpur, Uttar Pradesh