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…well, much worse actually. It is almost like Columbine on extra strong drugs. Teachers at Meerut Government College are sticking it back to their gun-toting students by – carrying licensed weapons for self-defense.
All professors who have licensed weapons have decided to bring them along to the college. Some of us have pistols, others have single-barrel guns that they brought today,’’ said Sociology Professor Amarjit Singh, who was the latest target. ‘‘We have no trust in the police…they can’t even control eve-teasing here, how will they protect us!’’
‘‘Students are going out of hand…we will tolerate no nuisance now. We too will intimidate them if they threaten us,’’ said the Professor.
Excuse me? Are we living in some surreal war zone with students and teachers pitted against each other? I always knew that goondaism was rampant in UP colleges, often known to be the birthplaces of student activism (the wrong kind). Political parties usually nurture rowdy student gang leaders for future political careers. They are given a free rein in bullying students and locals into submission. As expected, corruption of power sets in early and guns are not far away from the equation.
Plenty of stories and movies have put college rogues in the limelight
and rest of us are painted as mute and helpless spectators. This is the
first time, teachers – the most helpless lot have taken up the gauntlet
of fighting back. But this is so wrong. Rowdy behavior cannot be
countered with equally dangerous means. It might just erupt into a
sporadic gunfight if things get out of hand killing innocent students.
Should we wait until a dozen students die before the law and order
machinery springs into action? Simply providing “heavy security” and
stationing PAC outside the gates doesn’t help. Bullying, especially
with guns and other weapons should not be tolerated in at least
institutions of learning.
by Patrix | on Saturday, July 23rd, 2005 at 5:00 am | 
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July 23rd, 2005 at 10:47 am reply
had heard about the adage “spare the rod..” but this is altogether a lot stupid…next we’ll be roaming around in army fatigues carrying backpacks…
July 23rd, 2005 at 10:51 am reply
This is not about principles, this is about self preservation.
Apparently, you would rather teachers die than protect themself (you might not know,but teachers have died or frequently shot at in the badlands)
July 23rd, 2005 at 10:54 am reply
Gaurav, of course it is about principles. We are talking about a school here not a jungle. I am not in the favor of gun-toting students either but the solution is not more guns especially in the hand of the teachers.
July 23rd, 2005 at 11:08 am reply
Principles do not exist in the vacuum or in a society that has withered away
July 23rd, 2005 at 12:41 pm reply
Gaurav, ouch! you cynical you! seem to have burnt your fingers bad.
July 23rd, 2005 at 6:32 pm reply
Mohandas Karamchand would now be turning in his grave. Whatever “auro” we build around teachers (we do unconsciously, blame our guru culture), they are as human as anyone else and are a product of the society they are (unfortunate enough to be) born in. I only wish that society would run itself in quick enough that a new beginning can be made earlier.