Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Deplorable

The assault on college professors at Ujjain, in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, allegedly by the student wing of the `party with a difference', is indeed deplorable. I wonder what the party has to say on the death of an upadhyaya, allegedly caused by his own vidyarthis. A new chapter, it seems, has been written in the collective effort of some forces to uphold Hindutva.

M. Ravichandran,
Chennai

* * *

The death of Professor H.S. Sabharwal speaks of the nexus between student politics and criminal elements. Indiscipline in colleges has reached a climax. Incidents such as the professor's death reflect the decline in the student-teacher relationship.

The interference of political parties in student body elections has made them dangerous. The elections have become a matter of political one-upmanship rather than a harbinger of healthy politics aimed at solving the day-to-day problems of students.

Nakshab Khan,
Aligarh, U.P.

* * *

It is unfortunate that in a country where teachers are treated as gods, a professor died as a result of violence on the campus. As for students, it is unfortunate that those who are supposed to shape the country's future should resort to such criminal behaviour.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan's statement on Wednesday that the professor's death is unfortunate but is not a case of murder is a shame on an elected government.

Alekhya Mandadi,
Tirupati, A.P.

* * *

Ugly and disturbing television scenes showed students menacingly arguing with the college authorities, touching them while talking aggressively and, finally, manhandling a professor who died later. Yet there was no arrest for five days. The Chief Minister of the State even said it was not murder. If such incidents are not to recur, college elections should be banned until the college authorities specifically request for reintroduction of the same. Only students on the roll should be allowed inside the college campus. Trespassers, including old students, should be prosecuted if they are seen lingering in the area for more than a reasonable time.

Regarding the larger and major issues of police inaction, etc., it is time for political leaders to take stock of where we are heading. College campuses should be centres of higher learning, not training for politicians.

Edwin S. Alexander,
Nagercoil, T.N.

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