A life cut short

By the time you read this blog, you probably would know all about the untimely demise of Rohit Kumar, 3rd year student of IIT Kharagpur, who lost his life due to no fault of his. Even if you don't, I can't and won't recount the excruciating circumstances in which his life ended.

A tumult of rage followed soon after the body of the demised was brought. The Director's house was ransacked and he resigned under force from the students, even though his deputy claims he took moral responsibility. Mr. Director, I am a little confused. Coercion and moral responsibility don't really look like the same side of the coin to me.

And then we had that which we always have in IIT Kharagpur when the students are facing problems and the authorities need to make some false promises. The OPEN HOUSE. It was heartwarming to see so many students come out of their rooms, united, alas, by the untimely death of a fellow student. TOAT was filled to its capacity of 4000. The show started. With the officials acting high and mighty and the chaos that usually ensues in an Open House, things started to get a little out of control. There were regular and loud cries for the resignations of the DOSA and the Deputy Director. And of course the authorota agreed to it all. After resigning from their respective posts ( The DD only resigned from the Chairman, B.C. roy Hospital though), they just took off declaring that the session was over and students should disburse. So much for an open house. It was pandemonium after that. People were floating ideas for boycott of classes, for DOSA to come and apologize and for many other things of the same nature.

The sad part was that people just forgot the reason why they had gathered after all. Damn it, will some resignations ensure that another Rohit's life is not taken away? Leaving aside the monotonous oration of the minutes of a meeting read by the Registrar and the few suggestions at the start of the session by the students, nowhere do I remember the issue of incompetency and the lack of facilities at the B.C. Roy Hospital being raised. I totally agree with the resignations by DIRO (this nut job squashed the idea of a multi-specialty hospital whose foundation stone was already laid saying that we did not need it. Of course, sir. All we require are new floors on already dilapidated buildings and 15000 students to be crammed inside them.) and the DOSA (don't even get me started on him. As a fellow student rightly pointed out, all he has done is slap fines on students in the DCs and yeah, run away from his responsibilities). But I still believe that the major issue has been sidelined. I don't know why, but it has been.

Its sad that it required such a tragic accident as this to open our eyes. It is a slap on our face. The time is now to make the authorities accountable and answerable. And also the time to demand answers. Hall tempo and poltu and bhaats and LAN are all great, but its time that we stand up and demand what should be a given, but unfortunately isn't.

My heart goes out for the family of Rohit. I hope God gives them the strength to bear the pain. And hope Rohit's soul rests in peace.

The song from the movie Aamir reverberates in my mind- Ek Lau is tarah kyun bujhi mere maula, Ek Lau zindagi ki maula.