The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Ujjain incident

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 04, 2006

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Ujjain incident

It is a matter of shame that students assaulted a college professor in Ujjain, shortly after which he died. Education has lost its meaning. Elections in colleges should be banned. Politics in college campuses divides the student community and sows the seeds of enmity among the young. In this context, what is the point in observing Teachers' Day on September 5?

G. Venkat Giri,
Visakhapatnam, A.P.

* * *

That Professor H.S. Sabharwal died after being attacked by some students of his college is shocking. Worse was the fact that the police remained mute spectators to the outrageous incident. Did they feel constrained because the students involved in the assault allegedly belonged to the ABVP?

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan's statement that the professor's death was unfortunate but was not murder adds insult to injury. Such politicking should immediately be ended on college campuses. Politics should be left to politicians while colleges should concentrate on learning.

Bobby Roy Chowdhury,
New Delhi

* * *

It is shocking that a student union election turned violent enough to claim the life of a professor. The television clips highlight the extent to which student politics has degenerated. All right-thinking people, I am sure, are outraged over the incident and hope the culprits will be brought to justice.

K.S. Sundaram,
Bangalore

* * *

That a professor lost his life after being roughed up by his own students is bad enough. The Government's inaction is worse. How can a responsible government turn a blind eye to violence and disorder?

D.V.G. Sankararao,
Vizianagaram, A.P.

* * *

The incident has given rise to a political blame game. The issue of safety of professors and students has taken a back seat. The media are also to blame for focussing more on the political fallout than on the plight of the students and staff of the college.

K.S. Sridharan,
Chennai

* * *

The Government should de-politicise students union elections or, better still, ban the unions. Violence has become the hallmark of student elections, which are nothing but proxy wars between political parties. All major parties nurture student wings. The student union leaders justify the politicisation saying access to corridors of power helps in getting things done for the college. This is unacceptable because students can approach the Government through proper channels to redress their problems. Why should a political party be involved?

Amjad K. Maruf,
Mumbai

* * *

American historian, journalist and novelist Henry Adams said: "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." In our tradition, a teacher is venerated as god. But the Ujjain episode has forced us to introspect on the student-teacher relationship. Whatever happened to it? Immediately after the unfortunate incident, parties started politicising it. Does anyone care for the professor's family? Of what use is celebrating Teachers' Day?

Shailesh Kumar,
Bangalore

* * *

It is very unfortunate that age-old values are on the decline. Professor Sabharwal's death is an example of the scant regard the young have for mata, pita, guru, deva.

A. Saratchandran Menon,
Chennai

* * *

The incident has dealt a severe blow to the teacher-student relationship. Unfortunately, the guru-shishya parampara has been reduced to mere rhetoric today. Those responsible for the developments leading to the professor's death should be brought to justice.

Carol Thomas Mathew,
Thiruvalla, Kerala

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