The authorities of public universities have utterly failed to protect their students, especially the newcomers in dormitories, from the torture and humiliation at the hands of leaders of the leading student wing. The leaders and selected activists of the student organ have virtually developed shadow administration in the hostels and dormitories in these top educational institutions. Some students are regularly being tortured physically and mentally under the so-called 'guest room' or 'gono-room' culture.
The authorities have little control over the operation of the dormitories except for some routine work. Although a dedicated provost and several house tutors or resident teachers are there for each dormitory or hall to look after the welfare of resident students, their actual role is limited in this regard. The allegation is also there that they usually ignore the sufferings of students and do not dare intervene in the illegal activities of the power wielding student group.
Torturing and intimidating fellow and junior students in the party's name has become a problem in educational institutions. The deplorable practice has traumatised many students. Some have broken down and lost their dedication to their studies. Some joined the bullies in later years to get some taste of power politics. Unfortunately, there is no serious effort from the university authorities to curb the nasty culture. Though some of these brutes got punished in several cases, there is little sign of elimination of the cruelty to fellow students.
Unfortunately, some teachers have also extended their moral support to the thugs. The teachers, affiliated with party politics, find nothing wrong in this kind of intimidation in the name of disciplining and cruel ragging. They use to defend these acts as false propaganda to tarnish the images of the institutions. Some like-minded people also believe that there were almost no such incidents and all are primarily distorted facts. Again, student leaders frequently deny any such thing, and they have some common terms and jargon in denials like: 'not true,' 'discrete incident,' 'false allegation', 'move to undermine the student politics,' etc. Thus spread of falsehood is also there, and the overall consequence will be dangerous in the long run. Society has to pay for allowing the culture of intimidation to vitiate environment of higher studies.
Against the backdrop, the victims need some counselling or psychotherapy to get over the trauma. University authorities also go for prevention rather than cure. As they have failed to protect students, this is their second-best option to provide counselling service for students subjected to ill treatment. It is, however, unlikely as the authorities usually deny humiliation of students in dormitories. So, if they come up with counselling services, it will indirectly expose their failure to stop or control the barbaric culture of torture.
Nevertheless, the authorities should not shy away from doing the minimum duties for their students. These students badly need counselling. Otherwise, terrible memories will continue to haunt them for the rest of their lives. Parents and guardians should also come together to pressure the university authorities to provide support. Moreover, counselling is also necessary for the perpetrators. It may help them recognise the wrong they commit. Regular counselling can bring an end to the sadistic culture.
