Ever wondered how it feels to live under the constant belief that you are different, that you are nothing more than the labels bestowed upon you by society?
Universities are not only a place for education but it is a culmination of diversity that enables an individual for a holistic approach to life. Irrespective of their gender, caste or creed, students come together to achieve a common goal of education. In a country like India, whose foundation is laid on diversity and rich culture, it is quite easy to have conflicting notions based on the same lines. However, places of education are not the most ideal place to propagate a belief and suppress the other. It is rather a place where each belief must be equally respected and welcomed.
Nevertheless, we are living in 2022 and we still live on the trail of disrespect that arises from subjects like caste or gender. We tell ourselves that we are progressive but are we really progressing when we call out people in the name of jokes? It is almost impossible to imagine a day where you do not hear any casteist slur or a gender biased taunt. We have normalised these things to a level that we do not even comprehend the magnitude of damage it is causing. The existence of such things at a university level is quite evident when one realises the existence of a grievance cell for students belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) or any other cell to address the problems faced by such students. The perplexing question that arises here is that whether these cells are preventing or reducing the mishaps or are they putting a blanket on the root causes for it to sleep?
It is a great initiative to set up these cells and address the problems faced by various students but what about addressing the issues that are causing them? A student is being judged in a class and even called by their professors because of the way they dress up, in the name of joke. The student approaches the cell and the latter comes up with a mode of punishment along with a medium to get the student an apology. However, what it lacked was to identify the issue that led to this situation.
In conversation with a student of Kalindi College told DU Beat, on the grounds of anonymity, that he can not go about his life without being called out. According to him, his achievements are judged by his ability to get a reservation in the education institution.
Everyone mocks me from the time my identity was revealed. They have forgotten my achievements that I accomplished without the means of reservation. It makes me feel quite dejected.”
-student of DU
Nonetheless, the cells like transgender cells, SC ST cells, queer collective, are actively doing their part to prevent the stereotypes to propogate and are working towards achieving a shared objective of peace and harmony amongst such a diverse group of students. They continue to design different ways that have an outlook to break to the barriers and accomplish the greater good which is beyond the lines of gender, caste and creed.
Image Caption: Are the sundry cells functional in universities?
Image Credits: The Indian Express
Ankita Baidya
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