It was a sight that founders of these great institutions would have never imagined. Like blood-thirsty beasts, students of two prestigious colleges - Pachaiyappa’s and Presidency - which had perhaps contributed more to the movements that transformed the political fabric of Tamil Nadu than any other educational institution, have been at each other’s throats for the last one month for reasons as frivolous as bus routes and verbal taunts.
With sickles and knives in hand, which for the older generation of these colleges symbolised an Utopian socialist order they wanted to establish, students went in search of those whom they perceived as “enemies” on the other campus, resulting in a damage to reputation that perhaps is irreversible.
But the reasons for the situation evolving to such a farce involved not only the wards. Equally to be blamed is the hand of the teachers, parents and managements, which, many feel, are aiding, the development of a violent atmosphere by being mere spectators.
Highly-placed sources in the Presidency College said that one of the primary reasons for the college slumping to such a level was the attitude of several teachers, who fail to turn up for classes or take serious note in lapses in attendance. In fact, some time back, a plea was also made by the management to the Director of Collegiate Education that surprise checks be conducted on the campus to verify whether teachers were fulfilling their responsibilities.
“There has been no response though. If you take a tour of the college at any given time, you would see students using benches as drums and singing as teachers fail to turn up,” said a senior former administrative personnel.
If there is one consistent issue with every student caught wielding the knife, it is the lack of attendance in their records. “Most of them will not qualify for the examinations if not for teachers who, in an attempt to ensure the students do not complain about their absence in the classes, provide the necessary attendance close to the examination,” said a former principal of the college, who wished not to be named.
Parents also seem to take little notice of the behaviour of their wards. A year back, when the administration sent letters to 42 parents whose children were caught indulging in violence on campus, requesting their presence for talks, only two turned up. “In the case of those two students, there was a sea change after the interaction,” recalled a professor. At both these colleges, senior officials said the Parent-Teachers Association are defunct. “In earlier time, parents used to get monthly updates on the students attendance and we used to hold at lease one meeting every year. All that is history. It is common for a teacher to never see the parent of a student even though he spends three years in the department,” said the professor.
Another issue is the lack of serious action on students who consistently break laws. For example, Presidency College expelled 12 students last year after a bout of violence. But they were reinstated within weeks after pressures exerted on the management.
G Thiruvasagam, Vice Chancellor of the University of Madras, under which these two institutions fall, said that the varsity would back the colleges in case they initiated disciplinary action. “There should be very little tolerance towards indiscipline. The issue here is the fact that the actions of a few is affecting the entire student community and the reputation of the colleges. This should be averted,” he said.
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