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M.Sc. Mathematics Department Fiasco: Students Failed, Protests Turn Violent

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M.Sc. Mathematics students in DU received their results on 8th February 2019, and have been protesting the large-scale failing since 14th February 2019.

Since 14th February 2019, the students of M.Sc. Mathematics Department of University of Delhi (DU) are protesting against the administration for allegedly failing 35 out of 45 students in the Fluid Dynamics Exam. They further claim that 150 out of 300 students failed the first semester Field Theory paper and 130 out of 300 failed the Measure and Integration paper. The students believe that the reason for this is that the faculty feels that the answers of the questions coming in the exams must be according to the notes by the teachers; the students who referred several books to answer the questions were detained. Apart from this, there are students who have been marked absent though they were present for the exams.

The demands of the students are as follows: Firstly, an independent investigation committee, not comprising of any faculty member of the department to re-evaluate the abovementioned three papers, free of cost. Secondly, each student must be shown the answer-sheet of the exams, be it an internal in-house exam or semester exams. Thirdly, the protesting students want the faculty members to lay more emphasis on research-oriented projects where they are allowed to show creativity instead of the ongoing ‘ruttafication’ culture prevailing in the University. Lastly, they are also demanding that students should be allowed to clear their backlogs through re-examinations within two months after every semester. Currently, students have to wait for a year to sit for the re-examination.

On 20th February 2019, the form of the strike was changed into a relay hunger strike. On the same day, C S Lalitha, HoD of the Mathematics department gave a written assurance to the students to fulfill their demands. She also accepted the demand for a feedback mechanism wherein the students are assigned the power to review the teachers’ performance by grading them. The students also demanded action against the anti-women nature of the department. However, these demands were not met by the administration despite passing of the deadline.

Image Credits: Students of M.Sc. Mathematics department

Image Credits: Students of M.Sc. Mathematics department

The students have also complained of backlogs in the department, from about 370 students taking admission, and only 30% of the students being able to complete the degree exam. They claim that this is because the exams are designed in a way of testing their memory rather than analytical skills. A student informs DU Beat, “Just because I used the variable ‘X’ instead of ‘Y’, my marks were deducted.”

Srijani Kar, a second-year student informs DU Beat, “There are few students in the mathematics department who complete their masters in two years because of evaluation of this kind and wait to clear backlogs and give improvement tests. Students are unable to be eligible for the NET and JRF, they can’t study further, and can’t get scholarships. The final-year students will be stranded.”

On 27th February 2019, the students have also alleged that Professor Prakash Chandra Jha, Dean of Mathematics Department said that an investigation committee checked their papers, and there hasn’t been any increase in marks except that of two to three students. He also asked the students to take INR 10,000 from him and get their papers re-evaluated. A student further adds, “He asked some of us take money from him personally and get our answer scripts re-checked. However, we denied because this fight is for each one of us. He further stated that the answer sheets are ‘confidential’ and cannot be shown to us.”

DU Beat spoke to Professor Jha. He said, “The issue doesn’t fall under my preview. I don’t look after the examination.”

On 1st March, the students staged a protest outside the department for their long standing demands. The protest was organised by Bhagat Singh Chatra Ekta Manch ,Law Students’ Initiative , Democratic Students Union DSU, and was supported by Students’ Federation of India (SFI), All India Students’ Union (AISA), Pinjra Tod, and Krantikari Yuva Sangathan. However, the protest turned violent hurting the students and the security guards. Gajesh Singh, the Chief Security Officer, hurt his leg and fractured his hand in the violence that broke out. According to the students, the department gate was locked by the guard, and when they asked for entry, the guard abused the students. They also allege that the security officers turned violent on the protestors.

Mr. Singh. Chief Security Officer

Mr. Singh, Chief Security Officer

Attack on one of the students. Image Credits: Srijani Kar

However, Gajesh Singh,Chief Security Officer, informs DU Beat that there were around forty to fifty students who wanted to lock CS Lalitha in the department. They had brought locks with them. Singh says, “The students did not inform the administration regarding the protest. They wanted to lock her (the HoD of the department) inside the campus. Humne bacchon ko bola baat karlo madam se, unhone mana kardiya (I asked the students to talk to ma’am, but they refused)” “When I did not allow them to go inside, they started pelting stones on me and the other guards. They brought stones with them. In midst of all this, I fractured my hand. The students also beat up the other guards.” The guards are in the process of filing a FIR against the students.

Bijinder Singh, another guard on duty substantiates the whole incident. He said, “The students’ wanted to lock the HoD inside the department. In the midst of all this, violence broke out.”

DU Beat spoke to Kawalpreet Kaur, Delhi University AISA President. She said, “Delhi Police was seen assaulting the students. The administration had denied meeting the students. If the management doesn’t listen to the student grievances, what will they do? The students are fighting for their rights, and we support them.” On asking her why the protest turned violent when AISA always condemns the use of violence and hooliganism in the University, she added, “The HoD called the security and they beat up the students. We condemn the violence that broke out during the protest. However, the student political wings in the University are there to help the students fight for their rights.”

“SFI also condemns the attack on the democratic space of the University and administrative highhandedness. Again, SFI would like to extend its solidarity with the Maths Faculty of DU”, expressed the SFI press release.

Siddharth Yadav, Delhi State Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad condemned the same. He said, “We stand by the demands of the students but the way opted for raising the demands must be non- violent. For raising genuine issues, beating security guards, throwing stones, trying to kidnap the teachers must not be the way. Left organisations have started practicing the same which they do in Jawaharlal Nehru University which indeed would not only bring down the weight of the demands but spoil the campus environment as well.”

DU Beat tried contacting C.S. Lalitha, however, she was unavailable to comment.

Image Credits: Anoushka Sharma for DU Beat

Anoushka Sharma

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Students Protest Against Lack of Basic Facilities at DRC Hostel

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The students of Daulat Ram College Hostel have different notions when it comes to the hostel being a home away from home.

On 7th February 2019, the ceiling of a washroom crashed down upon a girl in Daulat Ram College Hostel (DRCH), while she was using it. The reason being ‘negligible maintenance.’ Fortunately, she managed to get out just in time, but hurt her shoulder during the process. The washroom was locked and the issue was addressed silently. A series of such mishaps have been under the light in the DRCH, unfortunately not all of them have a tangible form.

The Psychology department of the college had to organise a picnic to the Lodhi Gardens on 20th February 2019. The teachers along with the students of the department were to go together. However, due to bad weather, the trip was pre-poned to 19th  February 2019. The students received the official letter from college and got it signed from their parents as well. However, the students were questioned incessantly for going out ‘without asking permission separately from hostel’, even though they reached the hostel by 5 p.m.

The girls are were also questioned regarding their social media presence. A hosteller, on grounds of maintaining anonymity has revealed how the Instagram accounts of students have been scrutinized and printed. The matron has, in fact, questioned girls on the type of pictures they post online by showing them printed copies of their own account. Another hosteller remarked, “We are being mentally threatened and harassed. She has created an aura of threat and mistrust in the whole hostel.”

The students pay an annual fee of INR 1,15,000 with extra INR 20,000 in winter. On being asked if they are getting services worth the money, a hosteller replied, “The food quality has deteriorated. At times, we feel that we are being given stale food. Some air conditioners and geysers in the washroom do not function, even though we have written multiple applications.”  She added, “Earlier, we were allowed to keep food for our friends, in case they were stuck somewhere or working, but now we are questioned to death.” When asked if the girls tried contacting their parents for addressing the issues, she said, “Most of the students are from far-off places, this makes it difficult for the parents to come every now and then. Because of this, the gravity of the issue cannot be understood by them.”

Instances of matron questioning the upbringing of the students and threatening them by bringing up old incidents when students were forced out of hostel have also come up. The girls are, therefore, in a lot of mental stress. They’re also having ‘anxiety issues’, a student commented.

Around 130 students of the hostel have collectively written and signed an application citing reasons due to which they are restraining from submitting the fee and are demanding due compensation . In the application, the students have described in detail the reasons of their decision and explicitly pointed out their grievances. One such grievance being that the hostel seats were allotted to the students one month after the commencement of the session, due to which they had to pay a minimum sum of INR 10,000.

A protest broke out on 23rd February with over a hundred students sitting outside the hostel gate. They are determined to stand for their rights and the facilities they have paid for. One of the hostellers adds, “It’s great that a majority of people have come out to support what’s right.”

It is yet to be seen what result comes out of it but it can only be hoped that the concerns of students are heard and taken seriously. It has been a long struggle on the students’ part. The question to ask is if their fee package included these intangibilities.

Feature Image Credits:DU Beat

Akshada Shrotryia

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Young India Adhikar March- the Diverse Exodus that graced Delhi

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Solidarity and resistance found itself in the heart of the national capital on 7th of February. Students from all over the country gathered to voice their dissent against the prevailing system.

On 7th February, thousands of students, migrants and political activists marched from Lal Quila to Parliament Street to protest current labour laws, unemployment and issues within the education system as a part of the Young India Adhikar March. The march started at the Red Fort around 10 AM, with daflis, posters, banners and songs of resistance, the contingent reached Parliament Street in the afternoon.

The march saw students and migrants from Assam to Punjab and various remote areas of the country.
Though the march had a less turn out than previous student protests, the sound of resistance echoed loud and clear. With small groups in every corner, chanting slogans for azadi, it was clear, the student organisations divided by their ideologies stood united in their act of resistance.

Hope screamed louder than fear in the air, Jairsong Tisso from AISA, President of the Karbi Angalog and Dimmahassau Hills district region says “We hope that the government will accept our demands, we will not give in. We spent a night at the Ramlila Maidan and we would be leaving tomorrow or day after. We want our voices to be heard. We would be presenting a memorandum to Rajnath Singh, the Home minister. (sic)”

Sadaf from CYSS, the student wing of AAP says, “We had thousands of students march today and 70+ student organisations came together and took a stand against the central government. There have been so many scams, the paper leak scam and the lack of jobs and the seats that have remained vacant in the jobs…(sic) Our demand is that the vacant seats must be filled and unemployment does not mean that we go out and sell pakoras, we demand that our education budget be increased, the budget isn’t enough to sustain educational institutions and that’s where privatisation comes in. Privatisation hits the lower and middle class the most. Another demand we had from this march is that the lower and underprivileged classes are completely neglected. Look at the mob lynching, they suppress all the news. We want our voices to be heard by the center. We want it to be known that Modi sarkar will not triumph once again in this general election”.

Speaking to Reetkamal Kaur from Y4S, she talks about the state of the youth in her homeland, Punjab as the Y4S chants slogans of azadi in the background.
“I am from Jalandhar, I am an MPhil scholar and I don’t have a job. It’s sad but I am here to fight for the younger generation, so that they don’t have to struggle the way I do. We are here to fight together. We want our voices to be heard.”

“This march was inspired by the Kisan Mukti march which took place in Nasik and Mumbai and then spread to other parts of the country…It was pretty easy for the BJP to win the Madhya Pradesh elections, they needed to incite another communal agenda..(sic) it was pretty easy to propagate that kind of communal agenda..(sic) but when farmers march, no political party has the right or the audacity to ignore it and that is the inspiration behind this march as well ki (sic) we know that the 2019 elections is around the corner and we know that every single political party will march towards Ayodhya. At that time, we as students feel is our responsibility to bring them back, hold them by their collars and ask, ‘where is (sic) the 2 crore jobs that you promised?’ ‘what kind of alternative (sic) are you offering to the youth by telling them to sell pakoras on the street?’ We are here to stand against bhagwakaran (saffronisation), we are here to stand with the teachers who are abused daily by the system. We are here to stand with the yuva (youth), kisan ( farmers) and the masses of the country whose issues aren’t treated like real issues.”
Hope finds its way into Abhigyan’s resistance, “We certainly hope that the government does something. This march was supported all over the country by prominent figures like Arundhati Roy and Kunal Kamra. One march alone cannot change the shape of our politics, it’s not about one day and a few thousand people marching…it is about continuously challenging the fascist agenda that currently surrounds the country and threatens the very civilization of the country. (sic)”

The common resistance to the Modi government was echoed with protests by the Dilli Nirman Mazdoor Sangathan and All India SSB Volunteer Association. Their songs of resistance echo the same demand, to be heard, to be recognised, to get justice, to find azadi.

Image Credits: Jaishree Kumar for DU beat

Jaishree Kumar
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DUTA Strikes: Still A Bleak Situation

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The recent strikes by the University ad hoc teachers still go unheard as the University approves contract hiring of teachers for vacancies.

The 17 th January march by Delhi University Teachers’ Association(DUTA) at Ram Lila grounds sems to turn unfruitful as the University approves the contractual hiring of teachers after introducing ordinance XII E, enabling the hiring of contract-based lecturers who will be employed for vacancies spanning one year. This was passed with a provision to have 10 percent of the permanent positions as contractual appointments.

DUTA conducted a long march on the 17th January 2019 from Ramleela Maidan to Parliament Street in lieu of the several demands placed by them, including the proper absorption of the ad hoc and temporary teachers through a one-time regulation into the university, the resolution of the reservation issue through an ordinance and the restoration of the 200 point roster which the Supreme Court set in July 2018 which treats university/college as a unit. This became necessary after the recruitment policy in the University observed a halt on account of a letter drafted by the University Grants Commission, dated 5th March 2018 which asked the colleges to implement reservations by considering the subject as a unit, resulting in a significant reduction in the jobs for the reserved castes.

The DUTA strikes have been an ongoing struggle as protests began on 2nd January 2019, when the professors across Delhi University agitated against the unavailability of permanent positions, pensions, and maternity leaves for the ad hoc teachers. Such demonstrations and protests have been witnessed in the past too, but to no avail. The strike had more than five thousand people, including the teachers and students as active participants. The march was initiated from Zakir Hussain College at 11 AM and continued to Ramleela Maidan and Parliament Street. The protestors were detained by the police and lathi charge was issued on them, leading to many teachers and students suffered injuries.

The introduction of the contractual appointment as a response to the Ministry of Human Resources Development in these teaching positions will not lead to any substantial benefi, as it will create a feeling of insecurity among the ad hoc teachers who are already agitating against their lack of employment privileges.

In response to the past happenings, Professor Rajib Ray, President of DUTA, in his interview to The Tribune commented, “We hold the Vice-Chancellor squarely responsible for the complete administrative paralysis and subversion of the statutory bodies in the University and demand that he should act or go.”

The present situation still does not have any tangible outcomes, despite the active protests. The University has not issued any recent statement on the same issue, providing a bleak future to the entire agitation.

Feature Image Credits: Aakarsh Gupta for DU Beat.

Avnika Chhikara

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A Timeline of Notifications, MoUs, and Changing Criterions

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Exploring the history of the events that triggered the ongoing unrest within DU’s academia.

In October 2017, the University Grants Commission (UGC) had introduced rules, making reservation applicable at the department level instead of university level. The UGC rules had followed an Allahabad High Court order of April 2017, which was upheld by the Supreme Court. The High Court had struck down a UGC circular on institution-wise quota to fill vacant Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) posts, pointing out that there were departments without any SC/ST teachers. The new UGC rules had led to widespread protests across universities with professors, and critics saying that such a move will deprive many reserved candidates of their jobs.

In March 2018, UGC issued a fresh order with new clauses that asked for a roster system, sparking an instant backlash in the university system. Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) said that, till now, the UGC had specifically prohibited the practice of making department-wise cadres, as that would lead to the denial of reservation in small departments. In June 2018, DUTA organized ‘satyagraha’ amid reports of autonomisation of the University of Delhi (DU), by calling off the evaluation for this semester’s examination papers. Members cited this move as ‘anti-education, and anti-people policy pronouncements of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development.’ In particular, the teachers were strongly opposed to the 30%-70% funding formula, the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) requiring steady increase in students’ fees, graded autonomy, and the scheme of autonomous colleges. The DU administration later via a press release pleaded teachers to start the evaluation soon. In response to the ongoing protest about reservation roster, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) drafted a bill that stipulates for the maintainence of the vacancy roasters university wise at all centrally funded higher education institutions to implement reservation of faculty members in November 2018.

In December 2018, agitation with respect to the government’s failure to implement the Seventh Pay Commission in totality for universities translated into more protests. The notification for implementation of revised allowances, and pensions, consequent to the Seventh pay Commission, and disbursal of the required funds for its implementation are still pending, according to the memebers of the DUTA.

In January 2019, a two day shutdown was triggered by the Vice Chancellor’s (VC) refusal to table the report of the Recommendation Committee constituted to review the UGC gazette notification related to teachers’ service conditions. Dr. Rakesh, a member of DUTA spoke to DU Beat. He said, “VC has launched new terms to count the served time period, which harms us. He hasn’t enforced the UGC guidelines, which relieves the ad hocs.” Thousands of teaching, and nonteaching permanent posts remain vacant, while teachers and karamcharis have been working on ad hoc posts for many years. Ad hoc teachers lack job security, and employment benefits. They demand regularisation, and absorption of temporary, and ad hoc teachers. They also accused the government of sweeping the reservation roster issue under the rug, owing to their silence on the matter. Dr. A.M. Khan, a member of DUTA, expressed dissatisfaction with the Ministry, VC and the Government, saying, “There were very high hopes with regard to the new government, but unfortunately the opposite happened. Thus, everyone is on the streets today”.

Feature Image Credits: Aakarsh Gupta for DU Beat.

Nikita Bhatia

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Minutes of DUTA Executive Meeting, January 2019

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The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) held an Executive Meeting on Saturday, 12th January 2019.

The resolution for the same is a comprehensive account of the crisis being confronted by the teachers of the University in lieu of the Central Government’s withdrawal of government funding from public-funded universities. This was termed as a “highly misguided policy” and “commercialisation of higher education”. This has led to a delay in the announcement of revised allowances and pensions of teachers. The exploitative conditions in terms of long working hours and lack of job security and employment benefits for ad hoc teachers have also contributed to the rage and unrest among teachers.

In addition, DUTA has also directed rage and disappointment against the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Delhi, and condemned him for his inaction and lethargy in carrying out timely appointment procedures for teachers. They expressed strong criticism towards the VC for capitulating to the Government’s agenda by not even allowing the tabling of the report of the sub-committee set up to facilitate the adoption of the UGC Regulations 2018. Owing to the same, several young ad hoc teachers had declared a hunger strike in effect from 4th January 2019, which has now continued for nine days in the blistering cold.

In the resolution dated 12th January 2018, the DUTA has declared solidarity with the teachers on hunger strike, and has demanded that the Government bring in a one-time Regulation for the absorption of temporary and ad hoc teachers. They have proposed a one day strike and dharna at Gate No.1, DU to highlight their demands for the re-convening of the adjourned meeting of the Academic Council. They have also announced an immediate action programme of One Day Strike along with a Long March to MHRD on 17th January 2019.

Emphasising that these consequences emanating from a reduction in Government funding will soon affect the students as well, and has called for support by all sections of the university community, including and especially students.

Feature Image Credits: The Indian Express

Nikita Bhatia

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Beyond the Obvious of Delhi University Colleges

A Transition Against the Trans Bill: Inside the Jantar Mantar Protest

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An account of a widespread protest against the parliamentary Trans Bill 2018 which would have a negative impact on the transgender community if passed.

Amidst posters and hoardings criticising the controversial Trans Bill, a corner of Jantar Mantar was filled with a crowd, a crowd questioning parliamentary amendments and personal stereotypes. They were the trans-people from all over the country, proud of their identity and raging at the proposal of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill. And not only members of the transgender community, college students, activist, laypersons also joined the procession. Some of the provisions of this Bill which are cited as “biased” and “unfair” are that members of the transgender community would be subjected to a screening committee to have their gender assessed and it also reduces the punishment of convicts in sexual crimes against them, among other things. South India Transgender Federation had a major presence in the protest but activists from other states like Manipur, Maharashtra, and Haryana were also present.

Jatin, an alumnus of the University of Delhi says, “As a theatre actor, I have often worked on productions that revolve around queer issues, but after some point, you realise that theatre is just talking. By coming here, I am trying to show the little support that I can from my own side. It’s important to be physically present for the protests about which you preach via your art form.” Jatin’s point gets clearer in the face of a need for students to get educated and know more about the issues that ostracised groups face in their city, in their country. “The problem lies in the education. It’s like we are brought up to mock transgender people or just look at them as if they’re criminals even if they are just earning their living”, another college student remarked.

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’ Brien also attended the protest and used it as an opportunity to show his support for the cause, while also pushing for the political agenda of his party. Image Credits: Shaurya Thapa
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’ Brien also attended the protest and used it as an opportunity to show his support for the cause, while also pushing for the political agenda of his party.
Image Credits: Shaurya Thapa

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’ Brien highlighted how the Mamta Bannerjee government in Bengal is working towards the betterment of trans persons and guaranteed that this controversial Bill would definitely not be passed at Rajya Sabha (receiving several cheers). His monologue ended with “Do hazaar unees, BJP finish!” (BJP’s rule over in 2019!).

Politics aside, this protest represented a struggle for personal rights. Radhika Naik from Tamil Nadu questioned how the government can impose a Bill on determining trans identity without consulting transgender people. “The police beats us if we beg and sometimes for just wandering. Tell me isn’t this harassment? And if someone really harms us, how can we even go to the police? We live in troubled times. The government gives us a ration card and voter ID card but that’s just equality for the namesake. You give us cards but what about our basic rights, what about our roti (food), kapda (clothing), and makaan (shelter),?” Radhika said on an emotional note. “More than the government’s perspective, it’s the people’s perspective that matters and this will ultimately influence the government,” Selvi Naik, Radhika’s friend added.

sdr
The protesters claim that the Bill has been made without any community consultation, lacks accountability measures, and doesn’t have provisions for reservation. Image Credits: Shaurya Singh Thapa

Radha Chatterjee from West Bengal complained about how the government can’t as much as make separate seats or washrooms for the third gender, leave alone other facilities. Still, on an optimistic note, Radha added how the revolution will live on and these protests will turn nationwide. “They’ll call us chutiyas, but if you think of us as chutiyas then let us be chutiyas! We will still fight. You see even though we have faced atrocities, we are still surviving. My guru survives as a trans, I have survived as a trans since a teen, and we all will live on no matter what,” this statement probably captures the optimism that everyone felt in this protest.

On a pavement, photographs from the ongoing protest were exhibited and sold by a middle-aged photographer who has been covering sit-ins, campaigns, and dharnas in Delhi for quite some time (even if he himself didn’t seem to show that much of interest in the movement). "I have been covering protests around Jantar Mantar for the past 15 years. I participated in the 2012 protests about the Nirbhaya rape case, but all other protests feel like a routine and a business opportunity," he added honestly as people bought their pictures. Image Credits: Shaurya Singh Thapa
On a pavement, photographs from the ongoing protest were exhibited and sold by a middle-aged photographer who has been covering sit-ins, campaigns, and dharnas in Delhi for quite some time (even if he himself didn’t seem to show that much of interest in the movement). “I have been covering protests around Jantar Mantar for the past 15 years. I participated in the 2012 protests about the Nirbhaya rape case, but all other protests feel like a routine and business opportunity,” he added honestly as people bought their pictures.
Image Credits: Shaurya Singh Thapa

After shouting slogans and singing rebel songs, the mood turned light as several drum players arrived at the scene. And for a brief moment, many joined from the crowd dancing merrily on the beats of the drums, melting the anger into a celebration of collective struggle and hope for a better future.

Feature Image Credits: Shaurya Singh Thapa for DU Beat.

Shaurya Singh Thapa
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SOL Students Protest Against the Absence of Classes

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In lieu of the absence of classes and study material for the approaching exams, students of SOL are distressed.

The School of Open Learning (SOL) faces a crisis as students remain in angst due to the absence of notes and proper scheduled classes. The classes for the session of 2018-19 are set to commence soon enough. The Executive Director of SOL, H.C. Pokhriyal, said in a recent interview to The Indian Express, “We have been able to complete our admissions only by 20th October, which is why classes have not started yet, but they will start soon”.

The SOL website has already added the portal for acceptance of examination forms, without a proper commencement of the academic session. Colleges under Delhi University will commence their examinations from 28th November 2018. Mr. Pokhriyal further explains that the admission process usually begins by June and extends till August. However, this year, the process began in August itself, as a result of which there was a delay. Students should be able to pick up the material from 12th November and classes would begin soon. Usually, the classes commence in September. The admission process for SOL is similar to that of other colleges associated with the varsity. The examinations are also conducted by Delhi University. The course structure is also alike, for the school as well as other constituent colleges.

The annual examinations occur in April. However, the strange thing is the fact that students still do not have their study materials. The study material is given immediately after the admission, as explained by the Staff Council Secretary of SOL, J.Khuntia. At present, more than four and a half lakh students are enrolled at the UG and PG level.  Almost all of the processes are handled by the online Students Information and Management System. Several students do not have proper access to the e-resources and do not have a sense of clarity about the study patterns. The official website is showcasing study materials for the second semester and beyond, thereby creating more confusion. Authorities should give directions to the students in lieu of the approaching exams.

Feature Image Credits: The School of Open Learning

Avnika Chhikara

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LSR and Pinjra Tod Protest against Hostel Regulations

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After releasing a charter of demands regarding the hostel regulations and receiving a dissatisfying response from the administration, LSR united with Pinjra Tod on 5th November to demonstrate a protest against curfews, gendered treatment, absence of OBC reservations, and more.

At 5 PM on 3rd November 2018, the students of Lady Shri Ram (LSR) College, along with supporters from Pinjra Tod, collected outside the main-gate of LSR to engage in a protest. The protest’s objective was to get the administration to come out of the college gates and to engage with them on the demands listed in the charter released by Pinjra Tod and LSR.

Some of the demands from the charter stem from a practice of sexist and hypocritical foundations, students stated. The University Grants’ Commission’s regulations prohibit discriminatory rules citing safety considerations for women. For example, the curfew was 10 PM before 3rd November 2018, and it was mandatory for the first-year residents to acquire the signature of either of the two wardens in a ‘day-slip’, if they wished to move out of college at any time of the day before 7:30 PM. Staying out at night was permissible for only four nights a month, and even then the tedious procedure ensured the restrictions on the women’s mobility.

The accounts of the residents present a picture of gendered discrimination and judgements, which also includes practices ignoring the PWD residents’ convenience in mobilisation in the hostel premises. On the condition of anonymity, a resident shared that once when another LSR hostel resident was moving out after 7:30 PM, she was asked the following by the authority at the hostel- “Kiska bistar garam karne jaa rahi ho?” Several other residents revealed the hypocrisy in citing safety in maintaining curfews for adult women, while at the same time ‘gating out’, i.e. suspending the residents for breaking alleged rules, at any given time. A student was once forced to spend the night at the railway station when her train reached late enough for her to miss the 10 PM deadline.

When demonstrations were announced, the administration accepted a few demands from the charter, to be exercised from the beginning of the second semester, i.e. 1st January 2019, which are as follows:

  1. The curfew timings were pushed to 10:30 PM.
  2. The concept of ‘only four nights out’ was amended to the attendance rule of 60% per month.
  3. The system of issuing day slips stands abolished, and identity cards will be issued.
  4. Instead of the rule of making mandatory two local guardians (married), there will be the provision of an emergency contact number.
  5. Leaves will be issued without the signatures of any local guardian or parents.
  6. Appropriate changes will be made in the Hostel Handbook.

 

The Charter of Demands
The Charter of Demands

There has been no abolition of the curfew, or adherence to the reservation guidelines for the OBC community, and many other significant demands remain unaddressed. Pinjra Tod gathered in lieu of the said events, and the students shouted slogans like ‘Kuchh salaakhein tooti hain, poora pinjra baaki hai!’ (‘Some grates have broken, the entire cage remains!’), ‘Pitrisatta ka khol de pol, pinjra tod, pinjra tod!’ (‘Demolish the patriarchy, break the cage, break the cage!’), etc. to remind the college administration of the hypocrisy used to justify the regulations in hostel.

Over 50 women joined the demonstration, and the momentum increased such that an ultimatum was declared by the protesters, according to which the principal was asked to engage with them outside the college gates by 6:30 PM. The principal, Dr. Suman Sharma, did not respond to the cries and demands of the demonstrators. The vice-principal and a few members of the college administration stepped out of the gates, and attempted to deter the protest through a dialogue, but the demonstrators shouted ‘shame’ and refused the reported tokenistic gestures.

The Hostel’s Union was not present at the demonstration, nor was any statement of solidarity released from its end. Allegedly, some members of the union approached the administration in confidence and stated that they had been feeling ‘pressurised and attacked’ by the methods of the protest. After 8 PM on the 5th, the union released a statement defending its non-participation and non-solidarity for the protest, and also addressed other concerns in it.

At 6:16 PM, the LSR Students’ Union representatives, Katyani and Drishti, announced that they were going to engage with the administration to make them aware of the demonstrators’ decision to break open the college gates, if they failed to address them. No fruition occurred of the expected nature for the students as the administration proposed permitting only the current students of LSR to assemble in the college auditorium for a discussion on the demands. The demonstrators refused, and at 6:48 PM the demonstration took to the road. The one-way was blocked by the demonstration and the traffic assimilated for approximately thirty minutes before being diverted by the police officials. Women alleged groping and perverse remarks directed at them by the men gathered outside LSR.

Almost a quarter past seven, the demonstrators marched towards the intersection at the traffic signal, when their demands remained unheard by the administration. Around 8:30 PM, the students were let into the premises and the principal agreed to address them. Due to the apprehension of being intimidated by the administration, many demonstrators sat outside the gate and continued raising the slogans against the regulations.

The official account of Pinjra Tod remains that the principal left within a quick while of her appearance before the student community. They stated: “LSR principal barely came out for two minutes and left the protest site. All of campus is militarised with police men & plain clothed police women, they beat up women mercilessly. They say they will implement OBC reservation once there are more seats!” Members of the SU are reported to have been pelted at with stones, and scratched as they extended their explicit support to the cause. At 10:30 PM, the demonstrators broke through the hostel gates and continue to chant revolutionary slogans, singing songs to claim their liberty by defying the curfew for the day.

 

The Demonstration on 5th November
The Demonstration on 5th November

At 10:30 am on 6th November, about 30 faculty members entered the hostel and the hostel-residents’ account revealed that they were not allowed to move outside and assembling in the dining hall was made compulsory. The students gathered outside the hostel again.

Day-scholars and residents later assembled in the hostel gardens, where the faculty members addressed the students. In the dialogue, the hostel union’s President, Aarushi, stated that they would issue a solidarity statement if those students, who wish for the curfew to continue and had previously approached them personally, did not explicitly voice their perspective at the time.

A student who had been accused of intimidating the union, stated that the demands were being suggested as reductive when there was much more than the curfew.

Professors stated that they would listen to the demands point by point, and respond accordingly. When the issue of WiFi was brought up, the faculty members agreed with the demand and stated that they had already complained regarding it, and the inadequacy of the WiFi was not solely for the hostel residents. They were working upon it. The students demanded a deadline for the course of action.

The protests have paused for now and the new plan of action is as follows:

  1. A new, more detailed charter of demands will be formed by 7th November as the administration has accepted certain demands already and they have termed the main demands ‘vague’.
  2. The deadline for sending a written response back to the demonstrators is Sunday for the administration.
  3. The principal has to address the students on Monday in the auditorium. If she fails to, or if the students remain dissatisfied, then the protests will resume from Monday onwards.
  4. Attendance was not adhered to yesterday, and the same will happen on Monday.

The hostel warden has suggested that she will forward the letter to the principal herself, and Katyani from the Students’ Union stated that the students’ body of LSR will be present to back up the demands.

 

Image Credits: Anushree Joshi for DU Beat

Anushree Joshi

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Bharati College Students Protest Over Lack of Action Against Teacher

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After 8 months of waiting, the concerned authorities have left the decision hanging, over a professor accused of misconduct.

On Wednesday, 24 October, various students of the University of Delhi’s Bharti College protested in the college campus against the alleged ignorance of the Governing Body (GB) for not following the recommendations of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in a sexual harassment case against a teacher. The protest comes after 8 months after the case came to light through a student’s complaint against the accused professor. However, the failure to take any action has been met with backlash from the students in the varsity.

In February, a student had written to the university authorities against a teacher, who she said was sending her lewd messages and trying to have “vulgar conversations” with her. She had also submitted a purported video of her confronting and slapping the teacher, with him apologising, following which the college sent him on leave pending enquiry. It is to be noted that the college authorities decided to suspend the professor in June, but they did not receive approval from the varsity authorities.

The ICC, which submitted its report on August 28, has suggested compulsory retirement for the accused. “We submitted our recommendations on August 28 to the university. Students are angry because, in June, the GB had suspended the teacher, but the university did not send its approval. He’s not coming to college, but he’s getting his full salary. So there is some resentment among students because of this, and because the ICC recommendations have not been followed,” told ICC presiding officer Rakhi Jain, to The Indian Express.

The college principal, however, said that the procedure was being followed. Officiating principal Mukti Sanyal said the college and GB were following procedure.

“There are long-drawn processes which have to be followed. The ICC has submitted its report and the GB has done whatever it needs to do at the stage at which it is but there are other stages to be completed. It has to finally be ratified by the university and get the V-C’s approval. We’re steadily and surely working in the direction so that the right thing is done,” she told the same daily.

GB Chairman Ajay Gaur said the “matter was under process”.

DU Registrar Tarun Kumar Das and Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi did not respond to calls and texts by The Indian Express.

 

(With inputs from The Indian Express.)

Feature Image Credits: The Indian Express.

 

Kartik Chauhan

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