Should we, or should we not beat the teachers ?

9th Jan, 2011

Of late, everybody in West Bengal seems to focus their concern on beating of the college teachers at the hand of their students which is happening on regular basis across both the party lines.
All seem to agree this is a social malice at its best without asking the most fundamental question- what is triggering this?

Only students are at fault? Politics or politicians have no role in it?

What's about the teachers? Why their position in the society is next to nothing now?

As much as I understand the society of West Bengal both practically and theoretically , such trails of incidents are rather expected than exceptional.

Firstly, teachers lost their self-respect in the Bengali society. Reason is simple and multitude- during CPM era, they have turned themselves to be just another self-obsessed individual solely focused on their extra earning from tutorials, political alignment for better salary and placing their children into better Govt. position. They are oblivion to their social responsibility of raising future citizens. They are now manhandled by the students who represent the failure of the teachers more than the failures of the students.

Second issue is coming from politics and hopeless job situation in West Bengal. Unemployment did greatest damage to West Bengal during last 34 years of CPM rule. In the other states of India, students are more obsessed with professional education for making a better living-with a dream to integrate themselves into the globalization. I have no idea what purpose is served by offering Pass courses/Hons courses in humanities in almost all the colleges when such education does not have any relevance at all for a living! In USA, such courses are still offered but with limited numbers as supporting course as opposed to wasting so much of educational effort on a whole generation. Instead subjects like nursing, accounting, IT, ITES, marketing communication must be taught in the colleges so that a student can find hope with the education system.

Basically, West Bengal is breeding a fleet of hopeless students pursuing useless academic degrees. Their only hope to make a living is by gaining political power and prominence so that in future they can net a Govt. job or contract. Student politics is a match practice for them. In the politics of West Bengal there is no scope for non-violent visionary leaders. You should know how to beat the opponents or else, you are nobody in either team. Violence is revered by the peers.

You must be able to beat your teacher, slap your doctor and burn a bus in order for being "selected" as leader in any political party of West Bengal.

Situation was a bit controlled during CPM time because both the teachers and students were disciplined by the local party as they were part and parcel of the same system. So balance was maintained. With Mamata in power and absolute demolition of local control of the party, all hell breaks loose now.

Students need hope-very basic hope of making a decent living out of the education system or such malice will continue and grow.

Why should I care for my teachers if he is teaching useless subject which is admitted "useless" by both the teachers and the students? I will rather beat him if that brings respect for my political prominence that would help my political career. That is exactly happening in West Bengal.