We at this blog feel that the means of protest resorted to by some students against HNLU in the form of strike was not just foundationally bad, (as has been explained here) it was also a tactical disaster and a big blunder from a practical perspective. Why? Here's why -
Analysis of the state of affairs: before and after the strike
The solution that has come out after the strike for more than two weeks is an "assurance" by an Hon'ble HC judge, not the Chancellor even, that something would be done. The main demand of the removal of the VC has been continually ignored. This exact solution, or indeed a better solution, could have been obtained had the strike not been called in the first place.
The problem of "bad blood"
Now that the strike is over, bad blood is sure to be there at various levels in various transactions. There would be problems at all levels - the non teaching staff are pissed off (we had threatened them), the teachers are against us (we publicly abused them and they love their jobs too), the VC is against us. The students are divided up. The tread from now on is going to be very difficult.
No leverage for negotiation
The crucial task of keeping some leverage for bargaining has been lost which could have been maintained had the protest increased step by step (from dialogue to complaints to going to higher authorities to strike). There is nothing that the students can now do (or indeed threaten that they would do) since the last and the most extreme measure of strike has already been resorted to. So foolish!
The demands did not require a strike
The demands for which the strike was apparently called could have been met by other measures. These measures could have been those such as requests to the administration, stern letters to the administration, RTI applications, black band protests, communicating with the Chancellor, members of the EC and Governing Council etc.
Media intervention
Because of the intervention of the media, certain side effects have taken place - (1) people are not ready to talk to/ listen to the students because there was no confidentiality keeping in mind the sensitive nature of proceedings (2) the matter was spiced up and splashed around (3) this would have really bad effect on the reputation of the university and future recruitments.
RTIs and Enquiries
It is strange how being law students, we could have forgotten to resort to measures such as demanding information through the RTI for which the university could not have refused. We could have demanded enquiries into the matter by contacting the Chancellor and the EC.
Wrong Facts
A lot of facts that have been stated in the memo and the blog of the strikers are wrong. Allegations have been made without any semblance of corroboration and there is complete anarchy - everyone has his own word! Abuses were hurled, uncorroborated allegations were made and personal attacks were made.
Let's see how things go now...
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I appreciate the balanced position taken by you. Taking a level headed stance in a crisis is a commendable action, but the thing with common actions is that there are only two outcomes- a common triumph or a common failiure.
ReplyDeleteNow i agree that there are certain despicable elements in the forefront of the student movement that we saw at HNLU. I know that there are those who throughout their time in HNLU were total dimwitted numbskulls and involved in several shameful incidents in the past trying to play the role of student leaders and pose in front of the media.
But there are also some who have lead the student movement and acted quite selflessly in the hope of achieving a better HNLU- and its a fact, a well settled fact that the first step to betterment at HNLU is the exit of MK Srivastava. It might seem an extrereme suggestion but think about it..... its the origin and end to all the rotten mess you are in.
The issue of highlighting your mess in front of the whole world proving that the education imparted is a farce is defnitely suicide and only a moron with bull crap in his head can come up with an idea like that. The PR part of the movement was a disaster and exposed a very weak side of people leading the strike and their lack of foresight in their strategy.
If the student community as a whole had put across the strike through a more democratic process then i think that there would have been better results in a much more shorter time.
There are some really tough times ahead for HNLU as the students, evryone of them.
Good Luck
Z
Great comment, dude. Well written. When I first heard about the strike, my initial reaction was "are these guys trying to emulate their Chennai counterparts?"
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it, the strikers have great career opportunities in Chennai. Chennai lawyers are perpetually on strike. By joining the Chennai Bar, the strikers at HNLU will have "work" throughout the year, except on Sundays perhaps (when the lawyers get some rest from "not working."
What about the litigants? What a stupid question. To hell with them. As long as the litigants have paid their fees - why should the strikers be "concerned"?
Legal Dodo
Great analogy! Finally some cheer even though it is "dark humour". :)
ReplyDeleteDear Z,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. This strike was not a "common action" as you put it. However, unfortunately, it was a common disaster. Because whatever it may be, it would count against ALL students in common, whether or not everyone participated in it or endorsed it.
I vehmently disagree with your comment about "removal of the VC" being the panacea of all evils. Such an EXTREME claim cannot be supported in the least, not without concrete proof against him furnished by an independent enquiry or suchlike. This claim that removing him would be the end of all problems, is not merely extreme and uncorroborated, it also puts the students in a very IMMATURE light. It makes us look like fools - passing the buck on, and that too, without any basis at all.
If the enquiry over things like disproportionate assets, financial mismanagement and stuff like that puts him out, we're all for his removal. But otherwise, even making such charges as serious as the ones made here are only fatal to any semblance of seriousness with which anyone would take the students' demands.
PEACE!
diverging from the issue a bit ..and addin on to it ...
ReplyDelete->the state of affair today is dat nw we hv 17 exams in 17 days
->administration dsnt cooperate wid us..to evrythin der's an ans.... "aap log hi shikayat karenge"
->all faculties finding nw jobs..almost no faculty s here nemore
I am sorry to say this but....either you are someone who stands to gain a lot by his continued occupation of the VC position, or you are writing at his behest........ just a casual observation. Thats what reflects from your posts.
ReplyDeleteDude what's there to corroborate in a claim to cleanse the college through his removal.
Its not just financial misappropriation or the likes that we are talking about. Its about building, nurturing and supporting the existence of a conducive atmosphere for a proper Law School culture. Now its a corroborated fact that the guy is a prick!
I dont care whether he is stealing from the college by siphoning off to his accounts or whatever financial forgery he is upto.
My issue is with the kind of bad culture and along with it the kind of cronies that he is breeding in our college.
The staggering fines imposed, the shameless support given to the wards of politically connected baaps, the ridiculous solutions that are provided for everyday problems, absolute disregard for student welfare(health, hygiene, activities.....and i dont even want to get to the food issue).
I dont see any justification for the impoverished facilities that exist at the college. The facilities that are there were built during the time of the 1st VC and that too for 80 students... how many students are presently studying at our college?
The incompetent whatsoever position he holds have to be periodically weeded out for the betterment of the institution. Isnt it a shame that our college has the worst VC among all Law schools.... that is a general concern.... its on general concensus or not its a fact.
The wayout is a tough and dirty one, like the strike... but as they say its a huge shit sandwich and everyone has to take a bite!
Z
I must say I agree entirely with the last anon post. However much Concerned may claim that she is not here to defend the VC, thats not what strikes you when you read all the posts on this blog. What comes through instead is a very vociferous defence of the VC and a complete refusal to even consider that he may have some flaws (to put it mildly!). Concerned is clearly some crony of the VC's!
ReplyDelete@ Anon 2 -
ReplyDeleteFor the sake of argument alone and certainly not conceding to the point that the blogowners are "cronies" of the VC, how does that make your case any better? Even if this is a support-VC blog, the facts that your charges are uncorroborated, unsubstantiated and not serious enough and the approach to the protest was malafide and stupid, still stand.
@ Anon 1 -
YOU SAID - "Its about building, nurturing and supporting the existence of a conducive atmosphere for a proper Law School culture." - TOO VAGUE A CHARGE TO DEMAND THE VC'S RESIGNATION
YOU SAID - "The staggering fines imposed, the shameless support given to the wards of politically connected baaps, the ridiculous solutions that are provided for everyday problems, absolute disregard for student welfare(health, hygiene, activities.....and i dont even want to get to the food issue)."
UNCORROBORATED FACT. CAN BE EASILY CLARIFIED THROUGH RTI AND ENQUIRY. UNTIL THAT, WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS DEFAMATION.
YOU SAID - "The incompetent whatsoever position he holds have to be periodically weeded out for the betterment of the institution. Isnt it a shame that our college has the worst VC among all Law schools.... that is a general concern.... its on general concensus or not its a fact." IN RESPONSE (A) WHAT YOU STATED IS NOT A FACT, IT IS AN OPINION, AN ILL INFORMED ONE. (B) IT IS IN HORRIBLE ENGLISH. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. :)
PEACE
FURTHER, ANON 1 -
ReplyDeleteYOU SAID - "I dont care whether he is stealing from the college by siphoning off to his accounts or whatever financial forgery he is upto."
DUDE REALLY, THESE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THE TOP CHARGES IN THE MEMO AND COMMENTS AND THE BLOG SEEMED TO REFLECT THEM. THIS IS A SORT OF THING ONE SHOULD BE ASKING THE RESIGNATION OF A VC FOR! THAT SEEMS TO BE A NON-ISSUE FOR YOU! IT IS INDEED A SHAME!
U are defnitely a student and a bad one at that.... hehe DEFAMATION eh? dont make me laugh! No wonder you didnt get into any other good law school but HNLU. u are at the right place dude, you deserve HNLU!
ReplyDeleteRather than addressing the issues in Anon's post you are just trying to pass it off as vague and uncorroborated facts and claims.
I think you ought to check up as to what are the applicabilities of an application under RTI.
"YOU SAID - "The staggering fines imposed, the shameless support given to the wards of politically connected baaps, the ridiculous solutions that are provided for everyday problems, absolute disregard for student welfare(health, hygiene, activities.....and i dont even want to get to the food issue)."
UNCORROBORATED FACT. CAN BE EASILY CLARIFIED THROUGH RTI AND ENQUIRY. UNTIL THAT, WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS DEFAMATION."
You think that "the shameless support given to the wards of politically connected baaps, the ridiculous solutions that are provided for everyday problems,"can be solved by an RTI... if this is the sort of education that you are getting then the college ought to be closed by the authorities.
Do you have any idea of the circumstances under which VCs or Dorectors have been removed from other Law Schools? I think you better check such things before you go about deciding the"SORT OF THING ONE SHOULD BE ASKING THE RESIGNATION OF A VC FOR!"
BUSY WITH EXAMS AND PROJECT SUBMISSIONS ARE WE?
ReplyDeletehey concerned, wht abt the resumption of strike?
ReplyDeletewht wen all of dem leave 4 interns..???
ReplyDeleteWHATS HAPPENING WITH THIS NEW HUNGER STRIKE THING??? WHY IS HNLU BECOMING A JOKE?
ReplyDelete