N. S. Venkataraman for BeyondHeadlines
IITs have been set up by government of India with huge investment, with specific objective of promoting technology oriented educational institutions of excellence. By and large, IITs have maintained the expected standards in the past and several former students of IITs have brought laurel to the institution in the country and abroad.
Unfortunately, in recent times, IITs too have been seeing declining standards, particularly with regard to discipline and decorum. Sometimes back, students of IIT Madras were seen indulging in “kissing parade” in the premises, which brought down the esteem with which this institution has been held in the public eye to some extent. There have been repeated incidents of suicides by IITM students. The professors of IITM have also defamed themselves by resorting to agitation demanding salary hikes.
In continuation of the above unsavoury developments, a section of the students in IIT Madras are now reported to be indulging in sort of political activities in the name of Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle, which has resulted in undue criticism of the Prime Minister and even casteist references.
Certainly, in an educational institution of excellence, such conditions should not be allowed to persist. The students should primarily be motivated by their interests in studies. Certainly, they can debate on socio economic issues in a healthy manner. But, if the students would organise themselves under the banner of any activist, it would make the institution hotbed of politics. In such case, if the debates and discussions would amount to casting aspersions on the Prime Minister or any religious group, such activities should be put down with heavy hand.,
Obviously, politics and politicians are making inroads in IITs too. They have already caused severe damage in several other educational institutions, where student elections are now conducted on the basis of political party affiliations and violence amongst students have become the order of the day.
For God’s sake, let the politicians and politics be kept away from IITs. IIT management should act strictly to ensure that the purpose for which IITs have been created as institution of excellence of international standards would be maintained.
(N.S.Venkataraman is a Chemical Engineer from Annamalai University in Tamil Nadu and Director of Nandini Consultancy Centre. He can be reached at nsvenkatchennai@gmail.com)
