BENGALURU: As PU and degree college campuses across the state took communal hues on Tuesday and the government was forced to declare holidays for three days, educationists lamented how studies have taken a backseat and youth were being misled and polarised.
They pointed out that girls wearing hijab were sitting in classrooms along with their peers in harmony for several decades and the current tension is politically motivated. Students are being made pawns, they said.
Educationists said students in their late teens are of a very impressionable age. “There is an indoctrination happening through social media. There is an alarmism that is being promoted that one community is in danger because of the other. Teenagers who are on various social media platforms are subjected to this propaganda. They overhear adult conversations, watch TV channels, read fake news online and begin to generalise and stereotype,” said Cherian Alexander, retired English professor, St Joseph’s College.
“Education is the antidote for this. From school level, children should be taught about critical thinking — how the media can put together stories and photos to tell things that did not happen. Abroad-minded education that affirms critical analysis, cultural and religious plurality and social ethics is the best way to avoid ideological extremes that are undemocratic,” he said.
John Joseph Kennedy, dean, School of Arts and Humanities, Christ (deemed to be university), said: “These are purely political parties trying to capitalise on their communal agenda. It is highly unfortunate that students are being used and manipulated to fulfil their goals. As a country, we have been very sensitive about religion. Youngsters do not think rationally; they react emotionally and don’t think about the consequences. It is a very impressionable age. ”
He added: “But the visuals from various places have been disturbing. There are narratives being built by various parties and people are falling for them. Is this the country that Tagore envisioned when he wrote ‘where the mind is without fear’?”
Niranjanaradhya VP, educationist, opined: “We are passing through extremely difficult times. Students have been deprived of learning for almost two years. The state government has completely failed to maintain law and order and it has now closed educational institutions. Thi s will have serious implications on learning. ”
Educationists pointed out that when there are bigger concerns like faculty shortage and absenteeism, and lack of resources, priorities are misplaced.
“It is also inherent i n youngsters to rebel and try to resolve conflicts,” said Dr Mahesh R Gowda, founder and psychiatrist, Spandana Healthcare. “We all have it in us to fight for an identity whenever the situation demands. These students could be fighting for an identity or they may have a role model whom they idolise. ”
