Bollywood movies take inspiration from real life but commits mistakes as well. People take the liberty of imitating anything from Bollywood which they need to careful about.
It is widely acknowledged that art imitates life. Movies as art forms constitute a big part of our lives. Movies take inspiration from real life whether the genre is comedy, romedy, action or horror.
Over the decades, Bollywood has imitated from life and produced movies like Mary Kom, Guru, Border, Chak de India, No One Killed Jessica and more. By turning a real-life story into a movie, it reaches masses that are free to form their interpretations of the same. Turning a real-life story into a movie gives a personal angle of the story to which people connect.
Some people complain that certain movies paint a rosy picture or don’t portray reality. For instance, the extravagance or grandeur of movies like Dil Dhankne Do or Ae Dil Hai Mushkil don’t lie entirely. To some extent, they showcase the reality of the upper strata or relationships in their crudest form.
On a funny note, Salman Khan’s signature step of Dabaang movie was inspired from his makeup-men or security guards. Movies like Dabaang and Singham try to reinstall our faith in the police force. We often come across similar stories.
To add to the touch of reality, celebrities often shoot on real-life locations and even campuses like Delhi University, IITs or IIMs. It so happens that most of the students seen in such movies are actual students of the institutions.
One of the most heated debates of recent times has been the endorsements of skin-lightening creams. Why does the country require them? It’s because girls are conditioned that beauty is only about fairness. When people started accepting their bodies, Bollywood changed its perspective too.
There are numerous instances that people imitate Bollywood as well and I don’t just mean clothes. Smoking is often portrayed in the movies as cool which the youngsters have adopted too. People are made to believe that drinking alcohol helps in solving problems but it never does. Bollywood movies often validate stalking of women by whistling or passing lewd comments. It even normalizes the fact that pursuing a woman aggressively will make her fall in love with you but all these notions are so incorrect.
There have been incidents in the past when young kids would imitate movie stunts endangering their lives but such things have finally stopped. But people often take inspirations from Bollywood movies to plan and execute thievery or even murders.
Both Bollywood and people need to be careful of what they portray and imitate.
Dr. Raziuddin Aquil, a renowned name in Medieval Indian History, delivered a talk on the topic- “A day in the life of a Sufi- Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and his Chishti tradition.”
The Department of History, Daulat Ram College organised a talk on the topic “A day in the life of a Sufi; Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and his Chishti tradition” on the 10th of November, 2017. The guest speaker was Dr. Raziuddin Aquil, Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Delhi. Dr. Aquil, a product of renowned institutes like Jamia Millia Islamia and Jawaharlal Nehru University is an authority on the history of Medieval India. His specialises in Medieval Indian History, Islamic tradition and literary cultures. The talk was attended by a large number of students and senior members of the academia and generated immense buzz due to the unique topic on which it was held.
The talk detailed about the life of the famous Sufi saint Aulia, also called Mahmud Illahi or lover of God from medieval India. His work and impact on society especially taking recent tension and debates on intolerance were described as particularly relevant. Aulia was a true secular, with followers both in Hinduism and Islam and his teachings were described to be as relevant today, as they were more than 600 years ago. The dynamic lecture was addressed to a jam packed hall, full of eager students wishing to know more about history, Sufism and the renowned teachings of Aulia. An interactive Q and A session proved to be the most engaging part of the event, apart from the lecture itself.
The lecture which was extremely well-organised was a part of a series of lectures that the history department frequently holds in order to generate conversation and create interest amongst students on such issues. It was convened by Dr. Md Haider Ali, Department of History, Daulat Ram College.
Many colleges affiliated to the University of Delhi have decided to seek help from professional ghostbusters to combat the frequently occurring mishaps that are causing problems for both, the administration and the students.
In the past few months, University of Delhi has seen increasing incidences of infrastructure failure, administrative delays, and incidents of violence. Recently, a large portion of the plaster fell off from the ceiling in one of the rooms of Hansraj College hostel. Earlier on 11th August, a section of the newly constructed false ceiling came crashing down in a classroom of the College of Vocational Studies. Last year too, ceiling collapsed in Daulat Ram College, leaving several students injured.
Considering that these episodes can also be life-threatening, college administrations were severely critiqued for being negligent. Recently in the executive council meeting, all colleges unanimously accredited paranormal forces for causing such mishaps. On the condition of anonymity, a member of the Maintenance Committee of College of Vocational Studies (CVS) said, “The infrastructure of CVS is top notch; there is no carelessness on our part that could cause injury inflicting miscarriages. We strongly suspect some extra-terrestrial forces behind the ceiling collapse.” The executive council of Delhi University has proposed a budget of one crore that should be allotted for hiring professional ghostbusters who will undertake all necessary activities to counter this. The activities are scheduled to take place during the examination break, provided the Finance Committee accepts the proposal and releases funds.
Many people claim that accusing sinister forces of interfering with day-to-day deeds of the Varsity is the administration’s desperate attempt to negate accountability and shift the blame. Addressing these allegations, a member of executive Council resonated, “If you look at the geography of North Campus, you’ll see several landmarks that have a dark history, such as Khooni Jheel and Flagstaff Tower located in the Kamla Nehru Ridge, which is adjacent to the North Campus. It is very much possible that eldritch energies from these places intrude in the campuses.”
Miranda House, one of the most acclaimed colleges of Delhi University has also witnessed eerie occurrences ever since its auditorium, one of the oldest constructions in the college, was closed for renovation work. It has been a while since the auditorium has been undergoing retrofitting, but not much progress has been made. On the condition of anonymity, the official in charge of the renovations told DU Beat that all attempts to develop the work is being vandalized by unknown people. The workers often find their construction gears either missing or damaged. The rumor is that the ghost of English architect Walter Sykes George, who designed Miranda House at its inception, is sabotaging the work because he is not pleased with the new design of the auditorium.
Whether or not the rumors have any substance or they are simply an excuse meted by the officials to distract attention from their failures is for people to decide, depending on whatever they want to believe in.
Most people view the constant protests that go on in the University of Delhi as political gimmicks. And while most of these protests may be politically motivated, they teach us an important life lesson on how to speak our mind and raise our voice fearlessly and without apprehension.
A lot of students view the constant protests that go on in the University of Delhi (DU) as a hassle. I’ve seen friends and acquaintances describe them as a politically motivated menace. Some complaint about the negative impact they have on academics while others simply don’t find the reasons behind them “legitimate” enough. Despite the visible inconveniences that protests seem to bring along, they are still an extremely powerful tool to express outrage and anger.
The word protest literally means a statement or action expressing disapproval or objection to something. Definitions aside, for each one of us, the word protest holds a different significance. To some, it may evoke memories of high school history textbooks and their innumerable chapters on the Indian National Movement. For others, it may act as a reminder of the India Against Corruption Movement or the Jawaharlal Nehru University sedition controversy. And while to most of us, the image synchronized slogans and dharnas comes to mind when thinking of protests; its scope isn’t limited to them. Nor is their sphere of influence is limited to the lives of college students and union workers. The right to protest peacefully is one of the most powerful tools in our hands. It is a dignified way to express anger and demand justice. It is easy to be dismissive about protests, call them frivolous, unnecessary and pointless but the truth is this is exactly what makes it so important. Just because an issue seems irrelevant and not worthy outrage to us does not necessarily mean that other lives are not negatively impacted by it. Majoritarian opinion and views are difficult to challenge and defy. Propaganda, business ties with major media outlets and a charismatic leader who claims to not be a part of the system are ways with which oppressive governments slowly seize control. Falling for this ideology is especially tempting when those who oppose it are labelled as “snowflakes” or “anti-nationals”. It is at such times that the culture of protest becomes crucial in ensuring that a country remains democratic. The right to sit down and speak one’s mind is extremely powerful.
This culture of protest that disrupts lessons, activities and everyday routine to raise seemingly “frivolous” issues should be our choice of weapon. Because while the definition of frivolous can be easily fixed and put into a dictionary, it’s interpretation in everyday life cannot be. What may appear to be a frivolous issue to one may be a life-altering issue for another; for example- the LGBTQ rights. Maybe a fee hike of Rupees 5,000 does not bother you but for someone else, it might be a huge inconvenience. This culture of protest does not just teach us the dynamics and logistics of organising and participating in a protest, it teaches us the principle behind it, its social significance. The idea that anything that is oppressive, unfair, biased, disrespectful, or discriminating should be actively but peacefully fought against is a beautiful one. It teaches us to challenge status quo, to not be afraid to ruffle some feathers, to ask uncomfortable question and demand that they are answered. It teaches us to use our voice and speak our mind.
We are a country that secured its freedom under the leadership of a short, skinny man who wore the homespun loincloth. We owe the foundation of our state to Satyagraha and peaceful protests. Therefore, it is only appropriate that a culture of protest in one of India’s premier institutions should be celebrated, encouraged, and actively sheltered and protected.
Out of 60 colleges that fall under the University of Delhi, at least 20 colleges are not located in ‘primal’ locations – the North and South Campus. Despite forming a decent share of the total students studying in DU, these colleges are often overlooked and their worries not given equal impetus compared to fellow north and south campus colleges.
In light of the recent news reports citing safety concerns for female students of Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, we must address the issues that an off-campus student generally faces. After interacting with several students from the aforementioned category, the following is an attempt to point out the mutual problems and arrive at hopeful solutions-
Hostel/PG Facilities – Out of the 15 Delhi University Colleges that offer hostel facilities, only 2 are off-campus colleges: Maharaja Agrasen College and Keshav Mahavidyalya. Both colleges offer hostels only for girls that too with a very limited capacity. It becomes a daunting task to find PGs especially when the college is in a relatively secluded area. Famous PGs in Kamala Nagar are a go-to for most students in the North Campus, but off-campus students don’t enjoy a similar structure. A lot of times, students rent flats with fellow batch mates where may end up paying higher. There are steps being taken to fulfill the lack of such facilities, as Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College and Shaheed Sukhdev College for Business Studies are in the process of building hostels which would be open soon.
Limited reach of on-campus events – Any organiser of an event or a quiz would agree that gathering footfall for society events is a herculean task. Since many colleges are in far-flung areas, students think twice before attending that college’s event in comparison to a North-Campus College where one can miss a couple of lectures and attend the rest. Consequently, finding sponsors for societies is extremely taxing as most sponsors consider an event’s footfall before investing money in the society. A few colleges which enjoy famous reputation may not face this problem, but many which are comparatively newer and not as well-known have to go through a struggle to raise funds.
Lack of University-wide Facilities – Every north campus student can avail the benefits of centralised photocopy shops, university special buses, and has easy access to the parts of Delhi University that are relatively unknown to most off-campus students. Vice Chancellor’s Lawns, DUSU office, Mind and Body Centre, Conference Centre are at the threshold of every North Campus student. To top it, protests and marches are a regular thing in North Campus, and many students are yet to experience the power of dissenting voices through this wonderful medium. Moreover, any news of relevance to the student community reaches late to a student who isn’t in those extreme directions.
Fewer student-centric hangout spots – While north campus has Hudson Lane and Kamla Nagar, south campus has Satya Niketan, off-campus college students end up in varied places each time. Depending on the location, the surrounding locality of the college can either be lackluster, with very few areas of interest or with extremely pricey restaurants that primarily cater to families, barring a few outlets opened for students. College canteen becomes the last resort especially when breaks between classes are of a shorter duration.
In addition to the above, the newer off-campus colleges have to face the brunt of being new. Students there have complained about lack of exposure in comparison to other colleges with established Placement Cells and decades-old society culture. The management doesn’t entirely trust students and many college rules digress from commonplace practices eg. the system of ECA or Pink Slips is not prevalent in many newer colleges where the management repudiates the students’ requests. An implication of this system of long procedures is heavy focus on academics and figuratively no co-curriculars to participate in. Connectivity is another major problem for students of Maharaja Agrasen College, as the nearest metro station isn’t exactly near to their college.
Regardless of everything mentioned, there are several bonus points of being an off-campus college student. The infrastructure of some off-campus colleges is better than many of its extreme counterparts, DDUC, MAC, and SSCBS being great examples of that. The students who disdain the heavily politicised atmosphere during elections season do not need to fall prey to unnecessary harangues. Opportunities to start new societies tend to be on the higher side, and ways to escape droning lectures are always innumerable. Specialised courses, sprawling campuses, hi-tech facilities, and immense focus on academics steal the spotlight from north and south.
Life in DU is not only about academics, and it is a place to hone your talents. This can be achieved through participating in the various societies.
The student experience in the University of Delhi has never been restricted just to academics. Delhi University gives equal importance to extracurricular activities, as almost every college has provisions for cultural societies that are fully supported by the various colleges and cater to talents like debate, dance, music, drama, art, music, social service, quizzing etc.
Societies nurture your potential, hone your talents and best of all, and give you immense and adequate exposure and platforms to express yourself. In addition, being a part of any society is a huge boost to your CV. However, being a part of a society does not come easy as they tend to have a rigorous audition process and have a limited intake.
Starting a brand new society in any college can prove to be quite a challenge. The long and strenuous process can sometimes prove to be demotivating. Moreover, there isn’t much clarity on either the university website or the college websites on how to do the same. Every college has a different procedure, but all of it originates from the same basic criteria.
Here is what you need to start a society in DU:
1) FACULTY ADVISOR
When starting a new society, make sure you have the support and backing of a faculty member. You can approach either your department head or any faculty member you are comfortable with and pitch them the idea so that they can disseminate the plan to the higher authorities. A faculty advisor is crucial to start a society as all the funds and the communication with the higher authorities can only be done via a faculty member. Every society has a faculty convenor or a faculty advisor. In case the principal of a college is approached directly and the society is formed, the college administration assigns a faculty member as the convenor of the society.
2) FUNDS
A society in a college of Delhi University, once registered with the college, is entitled to receive certain funds for hosting events and competitions in the college. However, once you start a society you aren’t immediately eligible to obtain access to the funds. The society, once it starts, has to be self-sustainable and prove to the college administration that it can function smoothly. This probation period of sorts determines the type of funds you can avail from college. When starting out, societies mainly have to be dependent on sponsorships for their events.
3) INTERMEDIARY BODY
To start a society, most colleges require a student’s union or an intermediary body of students to see through the functioning of the society and obtain the initial provisions. You can approach the student’s union of your college with an application signed by a faculty member or directly approach the principal to set up the society.
The concept of societies in DU is not a new one; however, with the ever-changing times and the increased creativity of the students, innovative ideas can always be turned into a reality. Societies such as National Service Scheme, Enactus, SpicMacay, Gandhi Study Circle etc are examples of unconventional and relatively new societies in the Delhi University circuit.
Graduating from University of Delhi (DU) is still considered prestigious, but why do the same students with all the merit, never want to return as teachers to their own University?
In a few months, a prestigious University of Delhi (DU) degree in hand, the real world with its blankness and stiff competition will begin to look curiously topsy-turvy for most third-year students. Those rose-tinted glasses, which made life in college appear idyllic for two years, will have to be inevitably chucked aside in favour of the grittier, ‘realistic’, adult perspectives which only point to one of these two scenarios, in case you are a third-year student: either you have zeroed in on an employment/higher education opportunity which you feel reasonably confident about cinching, or, you have your feet pointing in multiple directions and in no particular direction at the same time. Either way, your ultimate goal is viable employment. But what if your feet took a U-turn and chose to come back to the University, looking for employment? In fact, how do students in DU truly feel about coming back and teaching at the University one day?
“I don’t feel comfortable with the idea of becoming a university lecturer. It’s highly unstable [as an employment opportunity]… Look at the state of our universities today; there is no freedom of speech and the way our ad-hoc teachers are treated is inhumane. My teachers themselves tell me not to become a lecturer. What more do I need as a proof?” says a Botany student from the North Campus.
Delhi University Teachers’ Association strike
I remember one of my teachers in the English department attesting to something similar: the foundations of higher education in India are so shaky that the next generation dare not step on it, from fear that the existing plane may collapse too. Over the last one year itself, numerous national dailies have covered the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) protests for pay-rise and against the lack of permanent positions for lecturers, the overwhelming despair and suicides of PhD research scholars when they stared at their bleak future, shutting down of centres for the Humanities in several colleges, protests against the teaching of liberal ideas and values in universities such as Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and many other related events. If a severe lack of funding plagues the Arts departments across India, the treatment meted out to lab assistants and ad-hoc lecturers in the Sciences fares no better. Teaching in a university, in short, comes with more perils than advantages.
“It’s sad, but the truth is that even I would not recommend any student to become a lecturer these days,” I recall overhearing a teacher telling another in the corridors of my college once. One after the other, as attacks mount upon the state of university education in our country from all sides, it becomes viable to look for alternatives. There are private-sector jobs and the ever desired civil services exams eyed by more and more students as the pool of competition widens further and further. Some even question what the point of an M.A. degree is, if the road to research scholarship and teaching appears this murky. And if things are bad today, how much worse can they get tomorrow? It seems as if one door will shut forever for most of us, by the time we leave DU with our degrees next year.
For a visually disabled student, a task as simple as going from one classroom to another is very difficult without tactile paths. What facilities are available in the University of Delhi for students with disabilities? Let’s find out.
The built-up environment, meaning the basic amenities accessible to everybody to facilitate daily functions, is important. Hence, it should be barrier-free and adapted to fulfill the needs of all people equally. The needs of the differently-abled coincide with the needs of the majority. This is why planning for the majority implies planning for people with varying abilities and disabilities.
To ensure impartiality among students in the University of Delhi, the Equal Opportunities Cell was established in 2008, which works for the empowerment of students of the institution with certain disabilities and gives them equal opportunities in higher education.
The Equal Opportunities Cell, since its inception, has been working towards inculcating infrastructural changes in all the colleges that come under Delhi University to create an inclusive environment. Here are the facilities offered by some colleges in Delhi University: 1) Miranda House –
Credits: PV Purnima for DU BeatCredits: PV Purnima for DU BeatCredits: PV Purnima for DU BeatCredits: PV Purnima for DU BeatCredits: PV Purnima for DU BeatCredits: PV Purnima for DU Beat
Miranda House has the Amba Dalmia centre within it’s library for the visually challenged students and also has computers that read out the text. There’s also an enabling unit called Lakshita. An app, which is installed in the phones of differently-abled students at the time of admission, called Digital Vision is also used. This app scans QR codes (which can be found outside every room) so that if somebody is within the radius of three feet from, the app is going to scan the code and give directions/number of steps to be taken. There are a number of ramps across the college. Braille books in the library and a Braille notice board are also available. There are scanners, e-book readers, voice recorders and a Braille embosser that converts printed text to embossed Braille dots for easy reading.
2) Lady Shri Ram College for Women –
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Most of the buildings in LSR have ramps that make them wheelchair friendly. The college also has elevators for the same. However there are certain classes with a smaller door-frame which makes it difficult to enter with a wheelchair. The auditorium has a ramp but no railings, which can also lead to accidents. Menus and other important information is available in Braille. LSR also has a research centre for visually impaired students and almost all VCS get accessible readings. Workshops and mobility training for visually and orthopedically challenged students are also available.
3) Daulat Ram College –
DRC has a ramps in various places to make it wheelchair friendly. However the college has no elevators which could not allow wheelchair bound students to go beyond the ground floor. The college also has an enabling unit which assists students in multiple ways, including counselling them. NSS-DRC plays an essential role in helping differently-abled students. It provides them with volunteers who help them with assignments, help navigate across campus, act as writers during examinations and record audios and readings for them. These options are not exclusive to DRC students either, DRC-NSS co-ordinates and organizes these plans for students from different colleges and universities across Delhi. DRC also has an extensive collection of Braille books.
4) Hans Raj College –
Credits: Hansraj Enabling Unit Facebook page
HRC has four ramps across the college. Braille books and special softwares for the visually challenged students along with laptops are also provided to students. In addition, there is a Blind Students’ Club especially formed by Hans Raj College students to look after them. Hans Raj has both Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC) and Enabling Unit. The EOC provides the Enabling Unit with crutches, wheelchairs and angel recorders which end up helping VCS students, PwD students and orthopedically handicapped students. The EOC and Enabling Unit volunteers combined are more than 300. These volunteers help students in navigation, record books for them, help them with assignments and act as writers during examinations. Hans Raj has tactile paths both inside and outside the college. A lot of students had trouble feeling these tactile paths when they wore shoes. After three years of rigorous efforts, members of the EOC and Enabling Unit were able to get a tender passed which led to the installation of new tactile paths in the campus. The Equal Opportunity Cell and Enabling Unit also organized Roshini – an organ donation camp in association with National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization. The “World White Cane Day” and “World Polio Day” are also celebrated in order to create awareness and to provide students with disabilities a platform to showcase their talents and express themselves.
5) Equal Opportunity Cell, University of Delhi –
EOC DU organizes various activities all year round to help differently-abled students. It commemorates World Disability Day, organizes Udaan a sports meet for students with disabilities, organizes debates on inclusion in society and provides students with guidance and counselling as well.
Discrimination is not the only problem that differently-abled students face. The everyday hassle of fighting with both lack of resources and ignorance among people around them is extremely disheartening. Seemingly small problems like cars parked on tactile paths, no railings on wheelchair ramps, a recorder that does not work well or a pothole on the street can cause immense stress and prove to be a hurdle in living a peaceful life. It is essential, therefore, that all colleges in the University of Delhi be as accessible as possible. The aforementioned list is a short one. In an ideal world, every college would have the above stated facilities and much more. Awareness, sensitivity and willingness to talk about the problems that students with disabilities face are ways to ensure that they get the resources they deserve. It is admirable that the NSS units, Equal Opportunity Cells and Enabling Units of so many colleges take immense steps to ensure that the lives of their peers become smoother and easier. It is crucial that our institutions continue to use technology, volunteers, sensitivity training and counseling to improve the lives of all of it’s students. The University of Delhi will truly be worth the hype and recognition that surrounds it when all it’s students have access to a nurturing learning intensive environment, not just the fully-abled ones.
A true democracy is where everyone is equal. The one who sits on the chair and the one who stands below have equal rights and powers. This equality comes when everyone has the right to question those in power. This makes the authority accountable to people and also allows those who don’t hold any position of power demand the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution. In the Indian scenario, where questioning elders is deemed as disrespect, a majority of the country never learns this art of critical thinking which is essential for the soul of every democracy to survive on.
The University of Delhi (DU) is considered as one of the most politically active campuses in the country. Every other day, you can find a protest, gathering or a rally for various reasons in its north campus. This protest culture of the University offers a lot to learn from the students. These protests not only gather support for various demands but also become an important chapter in your learning process. It teaches you how to question authority and how to register dissent in person or as a community. This lesson further helps you to speak your mind and share your thoughts without any fear of authority. Regardless of the immediate goal at hand, be it high hostel fees or poor infrastructure, it trains you to be proactive against larger issues throughout your life.
These protests also instil in you the courage to fight and the resilience to survive opposition from systemic forces. Many a time, people face oppression because the victim either lacks the courage or the knowledge required to speak up. This courage won’t just help you grow as a leader but also helps you in articulating your opinions on public platforms. Be it in corporate boardrooms or political meetings, courageous leaders are the need of the hour today. Given the history of the University, some student protesters such as Arun Jaitley and Shashi Tharoor have grown up to become senior politicians in the country. The ability to stand up for what you believe in determines your position in the society.
Be it the case of adhocism of teachers, a fake encounter in a Naxalite area or the plight of Syrian refugees, every major injustice, be it local or global is highlighted through protests in the University.
Today, as incumbent governments across countries are cracking down on dissent and vilifying the protest culture as ‘anti-national’, the time requires you to learn how to protest more than ever before. The next time you see a protest or find an invitation regarding something you feel strongly about, make it a point to participate. By staying silent or avoiding protests you are killing someone who is most important to your future, the leader inside you.
On 11th July 2017, a Delhi High Court bench comprising Justices Siddharth Mridul and Najmi Waziri made an acute oral observation on the failure of the Indian education system as a whole, while hearing the Supreme Court plea initiated in September 2016, regarding Sushant Rohilla’s alleged suicide. On the matter, which was transferred to the Delhi HC in March 2017, the bench made a scathing remark: “It (the education system) is completely dehumanised. It is a machine. The human element has been completely taken out. The contact between teacher and student is perfunctory… We seem to be mass producing clones… You must conform at all costs, else retribution is swift.”
The bench also remarked directly upon Amity Law University’s “element of callousness” in handling the sensitive issue, as Rohilla was a third-year student there, barred from sitting in the semester examinations due to low attendance. “The student reached out to you. He cried out for help. But did you respond?” the court asked of the varsity, which continued to defend its attendance norms as a basic system of checks and balances meant to establish discipline. This system, however, is not above offering assistance to its students and accommodating improvements where necessary, Amity also claimed. The varsity is affiliated to Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), which was given the last chance to file an affidavit recording its stance on the subject.
Sushant Rohilla’s classmates took to social media with a fervour post his death, alleging his harassment and charging the teachers with apathy and negligence. So far, the outrage fuelled online has caused two of the professors to resign. Most significantly, it was a letter written by Raghav Sharma, another final year student of Amity and a close friend of Rohilla, to the then CJI TS Thakur, which caused this PIL to be instituted in court. In the letter, Sharma puts the blame squarely upon the shoulders of the Amity authorities, citing reasons including medical issues which first prevented Rohilla from attending the classes, leading to his lack of attendance, then a severe depression at being barred from the exams, and all of it culminating in a suicide by hanging, at his own house on 10th August 2016.
The court appointed amicus curiae has intervened after examining a “shocking” status report filed by the Delhi Police, which not only did not consider the examination of any person necessary with regard to the complaint but also insinuated that the suicide note may not have been written by Rohilla himself. Unconvinced, the court has asked for a transfer of the “compromised” investigation, to be monitored by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Delhi). The DCP must now file a detailed probe report before the next hearing on 8th August 2017.
So far, all the elements in the case seem to be working against Amity and the varsity’s officials involved. But most importantly, the court’s statement takes into account what the current education system and inhumane red-tapism tend to leave out—the worth of a student’s life. It is an essential point raised, and one which directly concerns all students pursuing or hoping to pursue a higher education in the country. Minimum attendance as a pre-requisite for marks and entry to exam halls has been a matter of much discontent and protests in the last few years in the University of Delhi (DU) too, with ECA and Sports quota students especially crying foul. Those against the mandate argue about the injustice of having to sit in class, even when unable to, for reasons ranging from serious health issues to a simple lack of interest in certain lectures. University students, after all, are responsible adults in the making. Why must they be robbed of the autonomy to choose and to make the simple decision of which classes to attend, and which to skip out? Only time will tell what the verdict on Rohilla’s case shall be, yet the court has made a vital statement in the initial hearing itself, giving hopes to the entire student community.
