In Defense of Student Rights at IIT Kharagpur

July 30, 2006

The Director
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
West Bengal

Subject: Recent events on campus in the Patel Hall of Residence

Dear Sir,

We are a group of alumni from the Patel Hall of Residence at IIT Kharagpur. In the years since we graduated, we have assumed professional roles across a diversity of industries and geographies.

The alumni network recently brought to our attention the action being taken by the disciplinary committee of IIT Kharagpur, with regard to three students of the Patel Hall of Residence. As alumni of this institution and of Patel Hall, we are keenly interested in these developments and would like to see the administration take quick and well-debated actions to preserve the integrity of the academic and extra-curricular experience at IIT Kharagpur, without bias to either new students or 4th/ final-year students.

At our alma mater, there has long been a tradition of what has been called orientation by some and ragging by others. Our belief is that there is no one label that defines this; on the one hand, there is definitely a social aspect that allows better interaction between seniors and juniors and on the other, there are undesirable aspects that need to be addressed.

Over our 4-5 years at IIT Kharagpur, weve been privy to both sides of the situation. We have seen personally the power of orientation the strong social connections that it forges among people of dramatically diverse backgrounds, bonds that remain strong long after we have gone our respective ways the very essence of the fabled IIT network. However, we also realize that pushing the envelope beyond a certain limit is certainly undesirable and the intervention on the part of the administration necessary. Our exhortation is to consider both aspects of the situation, in order to strike the delicate balance necessary between these two elements.

We believe that the experience of being chastised by the DC committee in person is a severe enough action to ensure that the students involved will not pursue such matters further. Specifically, withdrawal of T&P privileges for actions that have not been verified beyond circumstantial evidence seems harsh. We also believe that the students concerned have been frank and forthcoming in describing the situation as they experienced it to respond with a chastisement that could have a potential long-term impact on their career is likely an overreaction. That this was an unsavory act in the traditional sense of the term in unlikely; over the years, students have understood where the boundaries of impropriety lie.

As per our view, an IITian is not only strong academically as a distinguished engineer or scientist but is also mentally strong and disciplined which reflects his nuturing during his stay at the college. We strongly believe that a hostel acts as a school of education in itself which teaches the students and affects their life in a very constructive manner. The students are responsible for each and every action running from organizing halls day to day activities as well as hall management, representation and the development of its residents in an allround manner. Mistakes are bound to happen when a student barely out of his teen-years enters a whole new world. Some of these need to be checked to maintain the rules and regulations. However, there should be an attempt to look at the students perspective as well. We are requesting you in the most earnest manner to keep the future of students while deliberating on the issue.

In conclusion, one aspect in particular disturbs us the most that the burden of proof lies entirely on the accused and not on the person who is making the accusations. We have faith the administrations ability to distill truth from fiction given their extensive experience dealing with such situations; we would like to see this ability put to use rather than every person being accused being incarcerated.

We hope you will kindly consider our views on the subject in taking a decision, keeping in mind that your decision today may have far reaching implications on the social fabric of the community that is IIT Kharagpur. The list attached below is from the overwhelming response we have received within the first couple of hours of the whole effort being carried out to bring to administrations attention, the grave concerns and requests from the alumni of this institute to solve the matter in a befitting manner. We will be sending the updated list along with the views of the alumni in our future correspondence through emails, letters, phones or scheduled appointments. Some alumni are willing to travel to IIT Kharagpur to put forward their concerns regarding the future of the Patel Hall of Residence and its hallmates.

Sincerely,

Patel Alumni