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Divide and rule policy

Girls in `decent' clothes sitting a `safe' distance away from the boys. This isn't a scene from a Taliban-ruled land. It could well be how things will be on the Bangalore University campus if the Syndicate has its way, reports ANAND SANKAR

It's lunchtime at one of classrooms at our good old Bangalore University. The aromas of uppittu and avalakki waft through the room, which is alive with a noisy bunch of students. But hey, wait a second. The boys and girls are sitting together. Hmm... Will the proposed and controversial segregation of boys and girls in the classroom apply also during lunch hour? Something for the University Syndicate to ponder, perhaps...

Over the last few days, our supposed cosmopolitan city has been stunned by Bangalore University's announcement that it would enforce a dress code on its campus besides making girls and boys sit separately. And who made this decision? The university's Syndicate which is full of old and wise heads including one K. Narahari.

Speaking to a newspaper, Narahari gave the following reasons for the proposal: "If (a girl) sitting near a boy is being progressive (sic), I do not agree with it. I am not saying they should not speak to each other, but discipline ought to be maintained on campus."

Immaturity

"It reflects on the immaturity of the people making these decisions. Even schoolchildren will laugh," was the reaction of a lecturer to the proposal. Even though it is yet to be enforced, anger is building up in the campus. "This is an act of regression. We are mature students and we know how to conduct ourselves. What are they trying to achieve?" chorus the students.

Snehal, a student in the Psychology Department, says: "This is totally unfair. It doesn't make sense at all. We could all be wearing saris and still get catcalls!"

Suvagata from Kolkata, who is studying in the Women's Studies Department, fumes: "It is meaningless and it can come only from people not occupied with fruitful things. Whatever happened to freedom of speech and expression that are enshrined in the Constitution? Do these people know how difficult it is to maintain a salwar kameez or a sari? For students living in hostels it is a nightmare! We won't accept this."

There are a sizeable number of Iranian students studying in the campus who are aghast. "Can this happen in India? It is so liberal here. Even in Iran boys and girls sit together. Girls have to wear clothes prescribed by religion. But they are free to choose colours and styles," says Mahmood from the English Department.

The students accuse the university of putting issues that matter on the backburner and diverting attention. Problems are aplenty and they include improper evaluation of papers, late distribution of marks cards and the marks for attendance scheme. But chief among the grievances is the absence of a proper grievance cell and a democratic students body.

"Even if we want to protest this proposal, whom do we protest to? It looks like the Syndicate can make a decision and we have to follow it. Right now only the newspapers are our outlet," says Mohan, student.

The right to protest is one of the first things in the university charters abroad. And students' bodies are almost always elected there. But opinion here is divided on whether to have a students' union. "Right now we have class representatives but all they do is photocopy notes. A students' body is a must but the method of protests must go beyond just strikes. Strikes are nothing but a waste of our time. It's time we thought of an independent campus journal," offers Archana.

"I am from Kolkata and the unions there are very powerful and politicised. I feel it is very difficult to keep unions apolitical," adds Suvagata.

So, what are the students planning to do if the dress code and segregation are enforced?

"We are planning to start a whispering campaign to inform students about the ramifications of these decisions. We will use the Internet, email and SMS to get the word across. We will gherao the Syndicate. If we unite our voices will have to be heard," say the students.

Around the City

Moral policing is not new to college campuses. It has been in existence for a long time as a policy in some colleges and not so overtly in many others.

MES College is a notorious example. It is known for its separate staircases for boys and girls. But other colleges are little more "lenient", if one may call it that.

On the banned list in many colleges are long earrings, slogan-bearing T-shirts, mini skirts, shorts, tight clothes and short tops. St. Joseph's Pre-University College adds "trousers with many pockets" to the list. Some colleges even restrict parking or charge hefty fees on students' vehicles.

But what worries students the most is members of individual teaching staff trying to police students instead of the college administration. There have been many instances of lecturers docking marks or singling out students for perceived "moral misconduct" which in some cases is just being spotted in the campus talking to someone of the opposite sex.

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