UPDATE : Arjun Malhotra, Chairman and CEO of Headstrong, co-founder of HCL India, one of the most active and engaged alumni leaders is planning a visit to IIT Kharagpur on April 6th. He will be meeting the administration and as many students as possible.
Click here to read the detailed report on the Sunday incident
Asok Baral, Mech Eng., Patel Hall, 1969
I also share the deep sorrow and anguish that everybody has expressed at the untimely passing away of a bright young engineering student. May Rohit’s soul rest in peace.
I read with great interest the opinions of IIT alumni, some of whom I know for more than 40 years, and some that I don’t know, and the expressions of deep anger and frustrations of current students as chronicled in Scholars’ Avenue, and very similar feelings expressed by recent graduates.
Few things are clear. The infrastructure was not good 40 years ago, but it has deteriorated exponentially, as the competition to get into the100 sq. ft room with a shared bed has increased exponentially.
These are bright young kids who can take India to the next step if we don’t kill them in their health or spirits. While many people are feeling a sense of shame at what is called “hooliganism”, I urge them to read the current students’ e-mails, and you will get a better understanding of the depth of anger, frustration, helplessness and disillusion spanning over years, and vented in this unfortunate incident. I am not condoning violence, but I am trying to understand. The best you could gather from the detailed descriptions is that the level of corruption and incompetence is unbelievable. Politics, as always, is above everything else, and, finally, the authorities’ reactions to the incident is quite deplorable.
Frankly, I see sparks of intelligence and good judgments in many of the students’ e-mails in the midst of this emotional crisis. I also see that some steps are being taken, at least contemplated. Whether they are successfully implemented or get lost in the maze of bureaucracy and corruption, only time will tell.
But there is something to note. While many of the students have directed their appeal to alumni (some have suggested including 1 or 2 alumni in a 7-member committee), the proposals coming out of the meetings avoid any involvement of alumni members. We are the alumni, many of us have reached or are heading into the sunset of our careers. Obviously, we still feel a bondage to our alma mater. Otherwise, there would not have been such a flurry of e-mails. We can make positive contributions to the life in KGP, not just with money, but with our lifetime experience, or more importantly, by bringing in a fresh set of eyes to suggest improvements, or help in benchmarking with other organizations.
The reason why we don’t have a welcome mat is that we may become a source of discomfort to the authorities. But I believe that, if managed properly, the alumni representatives can bring in immense benefits to everybody.
I will share my experience with my American Alma Mater. Every month, I get two e-mails from the Dean, one magazine listing the goings-on in the University, notable events involving students. faculty and alumni members, and regular invitations to join in their social events (we, the IIT-ians, do the last part with picnics and steamer parties). No doubt, contribution is a major motive, But we also develop a bondage to our alma mater, and the authorities have opened themselves up for suggestions and criticisms. And who benefits – the university (quality improvement, publicity), faculty (higher exposure), alumni (networking if they are still working), and present and future students (better prospects for jobs or scholarships for higher studies). Who loses – those who do not believe in transparency, that’s another name for corruption and incompetency.
I understand that Arjun Malhotra, President of IIT Foundation, is visiting KGP on 6th April. One of the charter objective of IIT Foundation is improvement of campus infrastructure. We have funded several projects like Campus Networking. I heard from an ex-President of IIT Foundation that the attitude of the authorities was that “Give us money, we know how to spend it”, although the Foundation wanted to lay down specific benchmarks. I think that money is not the real problem now, enough has been sanctioned, but the accountability is not in place. There should be a grassroots movement from the students. or the Alumni (through IIT Foundation / Technology Foundation), or both, that specific benchmarks be attained within a stipulated time frame.
I only hope that Rohit did not die in vain. There should be an inscription in BC Roy Hospital that records our shame (we failed Rohit), and our accomplishment (the resolve that it will not happen again).
Shail, Past-President, IIT Foundation (’87, ME, RK)
I was pleased to learn how the vast majority (>99%) of the students are trying to find solutions collaboratively and peacefully. As you should know alumni are concerned about the situation and motivated to do all we can to address short term and long term issues.
You will be pleased to learn that Arjun Malhotra, Chairman and CEO of Headstrong, co-founder of HCL India, one of the most active and engaged alumni leaders is planning a visit to IIT Kharagpur on April 6th. He would specifically like to meet with you, student leadership and additional students (who are extremely engaged and agitated about the situation). One meeting could be just with Arjun and the student team, without the administration. Could you please share this with the student body and organize the meeting.
YPS Suri, VP TSG, 1974-75
It is difficult to control the surge of tears when I think of Dear Rohit’s parents. It is one of the most shocking incidents which definitely shakes up our faith in the system which is taken for granted by all of us as an excellent one commensurate with the Brand IIT. When it lets us down so badly , the situation becomes hopeless and reactions are of disbelief from one and all including Our faculty, students, alumnus and the countrymen at large.
Let us pray to God for giving strength to Rohit’s parents to bear this tragic untimely loss of a bright son. As a father , I cannot offer any words which can reduce their pain.I am sure Dear Rohit also would have agreed with me when I say that Vandalism is not the way to show our anger but getting together to fight the challenge in a logical manner is the Indian way.
Let us maintain our calm at this hour and not get into a blame game. Our respected alumnus Director Prof Acharya is a man with some of the finest human qualities and we must go and hug him and support him to go forward collectively to eradicate these inhuman living standards in our campus. Believe me , he is one of us and has same feelings about IIT and let us not be unfair to him.
I have been a VP myself and had averted a similar chaotic build up one morning due to thefts in one of the hostels. As VP I had the support of all the Hall Presidents in apologising to the Director who was shaken up by the slogan shouting by some students. The students are the future of the nation and they have to constructively tackle all the challenges to maintain the brand value of IIT Kgp. A divided house can never be properous or a nice place to be in.
My appeal to you all will be to defuse the atmosphere and go and HUG Prof Acharya. That is the Kgp spirit and let us be proud of the same. Let Kgp be as calm as it was before but let us be aggressive to improve the conditions together with our Director and Chairman Board of Governors in front as our leaders.
Subrat, Faculty, CSE
This is indeed very disappointing. Things have not improved since time immemorial. Students have died in the past, as in the late 1990s, under similar circumstances. We need to be very rigid and get the facilities worked out and take it up with the IIT administration. I think the first step should be to prepare a list of demands and post it to ALL authorities, alumni and if possible higher above.
Gautam Sinha, 2007
My deep condolence to Rohit’s family. I am a alumnus (2003-2007). The situation at BC Roy was always worse.
I will always encourage the students to what they did yesterday.It was not a riot or violent act. It was a protest which was required very early, at least not at the cost of some one’s life.
The student unison has definitely created pressure over the authorities. And it is the peak time to get the situation better.
The sad part is that actions are taken when someone died. Otherwise, earlier steps in the demand of action were taken by my friends of Scholar avenue and they were threatened for DC.
I as an alumnus extend my full support to the student community at Kharagpur in the way they want.
email me at sinha.gautam@gmail.com
Aniket Aga, E&ECE, 2005
Dear fellow students and residents of IIT Kharagpur,
I am deeply shocked and disturbed by the death of Rohit Kumar. If his untimely death has cast such a shadow on an alumnus who never knew him, I cannot even imagine the ordeal that has visited his family and friends. As empty and ritualistic as these words sound, my best wishes and heartfelt condolences remain with those who knew and loved him in this hour of great loss and grief.
The immense tragedy of this incident of course is that at some level, all of us knew that such a disaster was waiting to happen. Incidents as grave as the ill-treated injuries after the LLR-Patel conflict, as callous as ignoring my wingmate who temporarily lost his memory after a fall and was desperately seeking a CT scan, and as trivial as misdiagnosing an insect bite on my arm as herpes (really!) and several incidents of most IITians (faculty included) have signalled to all of us for years now that there was a problem, a BIG problem with the hospital – a problem so BIG and so neglected that it consumed the life of a fellow student.
From the updates on Scholars’ Avenue, it appears that the institute has got galvanized into action, that some decisions are being taken and that things will improve. These steps are welcome even though they are a little too late for Rohit. Yet, the challenge ahead of all of us is not to let this momentum go waste, not to let this burst of energy die down after a few months of frenzy. The stagnant waters of Kharagpur, tumultous at this moment, must not be allowed to settle back into stagnation and decay. It is for this purpose that I write this letter.
We all know that the system is broken at many places – BC Roy hospital being just an instance. We all have cribs about the condition of hostels, about water supply, about mess food, about gymkhana equipment, about inter-IIT funding, about Spring Fest rules and so on and so forth. All of us all too frequently ‘bhaat’ about corruption at all levels from the mess to the HMC and Institute. It seems to me that for too long we have allowed the system to be abused by callous short sighted interests. Now is the time to seek some deeper enduring change on campus. Now is the time for some accountability – not just from BC Roy but also from the institute and from ourselves.
If all this sounds too noble to be acted upon, here’s a suggestion that I encourage all of us to consider. The government of India passed the Right to Information Act a few years back. As per this act, all government institutions (IIT included) have to release information that is sought by any citizen. I suggest we employ this act to seek accountability – to find out how the institute utilizes the funds that they receive from donors and the government, to find out how the HMC awards mess contracts, to find out how our gymkhana teams are nominated etc. In short, let us investigate any aspect of institute life where we perceive unfairness or callousness.
Section 4 of the Right to Information Act mandates that government institutions voluntarily release all information about decisions taken, procedures employed, implementation and execution updates etc. on notice boards and the internet. Let us start with demanding that the chief information officer of IIT Kharagpur releases information about how funds sanctioned for medical facilities have been utilized. I am personally planning to seek information about funds utilized for the hospital as well as campus at large from IIT Kharagpur and once I get it, I will forward it to Scholars’ Avenue for their perusal.
My point is simple – far too often spurts of enthusiasm and energy die out with time. Let this not happen this time. Let us do all we can to ensure that another Rohit Kumar does not become a victim of ineptitude and callousness. That is too heavy a price for an community to pay.
Jayanta Mukhopadhyay, Faculty
It’s one of the saddest moments of my life to hear about Rohit’s sad demise in such an unfortunate manner! My deepest condolence to Rohit’s family, parents and his friends! As we do not have any other forum to speak about this matter and share my views with the students, I would like to do so here, not only as a teacher but also as an alumnus of this Institute. I spent almost nine years as a student in the LLR Hall, incidentally the hall, where Rohit lived. I would like to share my grief with his hall mates.
I was fortunate that I did not require any treatment from the hospital. In our days also, we did not have much faith either on the quality of care. I could not remember any specific instance of an interaction with our doctors, except in one visit with an intention of grabbing a medical certificate. The attending doctor also understood my requirement with a good heart. However, we were fortunate enough not to have similar incident in our time, which may be due to less number of students on those days.
However, after I joined as a faculty, time and again, the poor infrastructure of the hospital came into its limelight due to chain of deaths of faculty, staff, their relatives in this Institute. Though it is rare (and may be sometimes not so apparent), a student’s death for the same reason is not unknown to us. After each death, we were alarmed and discussed about improving the condition of our hospital. The last one I could remember, which agitated many of us and also raised many of the questions similar in nature, is Prof. Santi Kal’s death last year. That time also, various measures were assured from the administration, however were quickly forgotten, as we got ourselves busy into our daily affairs.
I also lost one of my dearest ones about twelve years ago due to lack of medical facility not only in BC Roy Hospital in particular, but also in Kharagpur and near by places. My father in law was visiting me on that day and his pace-maker failed suddenly. He required to be placed under an artificial heart-lungs machine, which was only available at hospitals of Calcutta. With some initial treatment at the Railway Hospital and after arranging an ambulance from the B C Roy Hospital, when we started, he was almost gasping and succumbed on his way. That was one of my horrific journeys from Kharagpur to Kolkata by road and I could feel for Rohit’s friends, who were with him during his last hours.
About a few years ago, when there was a talk of setting up of a super-specialty hospital, we were all excited. In fact, President of India laid the foundation stone with much fan-fare. I do not know what prevented our administration to go ahead with the scheme. Many a time, then head of the SMST expressed his frustration in his inability to move the matter. Is it due to lack of money or lack of will or lack of belief that a technological Institute is capable of running a hospital? Whatever may be the case, I always felt that as Kharagpur is a remote place from the City, an Institute of National Importance should have additional responsibility for extending the advanced health-care, not only to its own community, but also to the people near-by.
No words are sufficient for this deplorable situation. I feel ashamed when many of our students reported how indifferent was the initial reaction from their mentors. I only hope that the Institute policy makers will take a lesson from this incident and plan for building up necessary infrastructure and program for facilitating the tertiary health-care to its own community.
Sarala, Parent
I feel very sorry about the incident and my deep condolances to the parents and friends of Rohit. It should’nt have happened to such a brilliant student who would have lots of ambitions in life. May his soul rest in peace.
In addition to providing hospital facilities , other basic facilities like good drinking water , clean toilet , laundry machines etc to be set up for students who will be staying there for 4-5 years away from their home.
I am also a parent of a IIT,KGP student. I would consider all the students of the institution like my children . I would like to donate Rs. 10,000 /- towards the improvisation of the institution campus facility for the students. I wish all the parents unite and come forward to raise funds to give some basic facilities to the students who are away from home.
Please let me know whom and how can I can send the money.
Gautam Sinha, 2007
My deep condolence to Rohit’s family. The situation at BC Roy was always worse.I will always encourage the students to what they did yesterday.It was not a riot or violent act. It was a protest which was required very early, at least not at the cost of some one’s life. The student unison has definitely created pressure over the authorities. And it is the peak time to get the situation better.The sad part is that actions are taken when someone died. Otherwise, earlier steps in the demand of action were taken by my friends of Scholar avenue and they were threatened for DC.
I as an alumnus extend my full support to the student community at Kharagpur in the way they want.
email me at sinha.gautam@gmail.com
Abhishek Ghosh, B.Arch, Class of 2008
I am proud that the students of IIT KGP have finally risen like men. Those who look down on student rioting and protests need to be reminded that non-violent methods are pointless in a system which ploughs on no matter what.
For the record:
From 2003 to 2008, every year at least one KGPian died on campus. All of these incidents were brushed under the carpet to “preserve” the image of IIT. I can say this for sure because I was on campus during that time.
May the faculty rot in hell. I support the student community, my alma mater in all their protests. Let blood be repayed in blood.
Devanshu Agrawal, 2004-2008
to hell with media & to hell with image of IIT….with lives of so called cream-of-nation at stake, one would care less with those petty things. Why students only keep thinking about this only. I am really surprised that no physical violance against diro/dd/dosa has been heard. either this is suppressed very effectively or u guys shown a very composed nature. breaking some windows or a car is nothing in front of a life of some1. forget this shitty media. they are now as corrupt and rotten as our dear politicians. first think about ur lives before thinking about some brand image. each and every one of us will stand by you.
Sudha Narasimhachar, Parent
This is a very shocking and unfortunate incident. I cannot imagine the pain and anguish that the unfortunate parents of Rohit will undergo all their lives. My heartfelt condolences to them. As a parent of a student at KGP, my spine chills and I am ever living with a fear of something going wrong with my son, miles away. The college and campus are more than their own homes for the students, as the parents have handed them over with 100% confidence and trust to a team of well-educated, well-paid and well-known team of personnel but we are shocked to see the kind of incidents that take place in such premier institutions and the kind of politics that are played in these holy places of learning. Hope this is the last such incident and shakes the entire administration and politic to set things right and make the institutions safer, more transparent and really worth their name.
Abhinav Sinha, 2003
My sincere prayers and heartfelt condolence to Rohit’s family and my dear KGPians on the bereavement caused by this tragedy. As a 2003 graduate of the college, and a very proud member of the KGP community, I feel a sense of depravity on reading all that has happened. Given the current stage of affairs, there are two tracks on which student efforts need to move, and both appear equally important to me at this point.
First, the students’ community has to take this matter up with the Human Resource Ministry. With the autonomous university itself at fault, and the Director showing signs of vulnerability, a petition to the Ministry of Human Resources on behalf of the students’ community is long awaited. The objective of the petition has to be two-fold: to enable sustainable allocation of resources, both capital and human, for improving medical facilities in KGP, and to institute measures for accountability within the autonomous body for the performance of the facility. Caretakers of BC Roy Hospital are not only accountable to the students and staff at KGP, but also to the HRD Ministry, to the families of the students, to the faith of all the future aspiring students, and to the name of BC Roy himself.
Second, the students’ community has to take up efforts in parallel to work with the leadership at the Institute. The BCR Hospital is there for the students and staff alike. It is important for all members of the KGP community to understand the role that the hospital should play. It is important to note that the medical requirements of a 5500 strong students’ community are very different from those of the Professors/staff and their families. From injuries in sports, to psychiatric counseling, from food poisoning to emergency needs, students get exposed to very different medical requirements. The authorities have to realize that a hospital geared up to serve the professors and the staff community satisfactorily may barely meet the needs of the students. I remember from 2003 that the hospital staff always found it difficult to treat students with common problems like a twisted ankle or a mild depression.
I urge the students to take the lead in identifying clearly the facilities/resources that BCR Hospital needs. And then prioritizing this list. And then they should all their resources to approach different power centers to ensure that their efforts bear fruit. It is important to raise the momentum this time, and to ensure that the long term correction plans are set in action.
And finally, let’s remember that the correction may take years. Future student batches will lead those efforts, and they will not have the same degree of shock/grief to drive their efforts as the current community has. So it is important to establish a case of change that all coming generations strongly appreciate and relate to.
Prashant Yadav, 1999
Nothing has changed in the last 10 years at least. When we were on campus (1995-1999), an MTech student had died due to weird treatment given at BC Roy – wrong injection, no transport facility, doctors’ negligence – the story was the same.
It pains me no end to see that nothing has changed in the last so many years. It is tragic that while the HRD ministry and the govt. has the funds and wherewithall to double the number of IITs, it doesn’t have enough to provide half decent medical facilities at the oldest IIT.
The director and the authorities even then were only interested in dousing the fire and saving their backsides. It may sound pessimistic but a possibility of a sea change in the state of BC Roy Hospital looks as remote as the possibility of the institute authorities becoming all too sensitive and responsible all of a sudden.
It is disgusting and pukey.
Anonymous, 1998
I am an almunus of KGP(1998). BCRTH’s competency and management has been questionable since a long time. In 1995 too an M.Tech student had died in BCRTH in very similar manner as Rohit (I don’t remember the date but someone who was as IIT KGP at that time should be remembering). At that time too there was angry reactions and protest at Institute main gate (which the then director Dr. K. L. Chopra had addressed after several hours of demonstrations) was doused by the administrator using usual bureaucratic techniques.
We would not have lost another student today, had Dr. K.L.Chopra’s administration taken the corrective actions at that time.
While whatever happened is most unfortunate, the student community must show their true KGPian spirit and must try their best not to damage the image of our beloved alma-mater.
A Ghosh, 1975
No loss could be greater than the loss of an young budding inspired youth. I am in my heart of hearts already a party to the feelings of Rohit’s family and friends. Students are the future. I strongly wish that I live to see that something conctrete happens at BC Roy Hospital.
K.K. Patodia, Chemical, 1970
I am appalled at the tragedy which could have been averted.My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.Hope the authorities do something quickly to improve conditions at BCRTH.
Anonymous, 1998
I am 1998 Alumunus. For a while I worked in KGP too. I was shocked to learn of 22/3 at IIT Kgp.While I understand the students ire and anger I am ashamed that KGPians have indulged in destruction of property. I recall the terrible ragging incident in 1991 , when students went on hunger strike and protested and made the administration bend. This does not befit an IITian, who is considered a class apart from the usual engineering college students.
It is unclear why the Director was singled out? He is just taken over a year ago? What about the Deputy Director as the Hospital Commitee Chairman all these years? What has he done to improve the system? Nothing. While the Director’s house was being ransacked and property destroyed , did any one of you think of the Director’s wife, her plight and state of shock.
Me and my fellow IITians here in Bangalore, are still not able to come to terms that KGPians can be violent.
Surya Pratap Mishra
Absolutely shocked ! That was my reaction when I heard this incident from one of my friends there in kgp, today. It is really pathetic to learn that a young student had to give up his life because the facilities at the B.C.Roy Hospital were not enough. And then, we boast of being one of the top engineering schools in the world !
It is indeed high time that the students look after campus affairs by being more involved by the administration. Please please guys, press for it. I would be interested to know what the current VP is doing right now to communicate the grievances of the student community to the administration. Also, please if possible, talk to Kgp alumni who contribute financially and build many fancy departments and centres and put across them the stark reality of campus life at kgp and the indifference of the administration.
I feel sorry for rohit’s family and for me being a kgpian for the first time, today.
Naveen Arya, 03-07 Batch
I am very much shocked and disappointed to hear this incident. My deep condolences. I think BC roy is of no use in the campus expect just providing the first aid. Even when I was in campus I faced or seen several horrible incidents , either students running from hospital or doctor is asking what disease you have rather than analyzing him or herself. It’s the high time that we KGPians should raise our single voice that such incidents should not be tolerated where doctors in BC Roy are playing with students life. Hospital should be equipped with quality doctors and equipments , if not then they institute doesnt have the right to say that children are safe here.
Kunal Kashyap, VP TSG, 2008
Needless to say, It is an extremely sad day for Kgp today. First and foremost my deepest condolences to Rohit’s friends and family. I have been following the events of the day through my conversations with folks in Kgp. The anger of students is completely justified, and its high time that the administration takes due notice of the real needs of students. We must make sure, though, that we relentlessly pursue the demands that have been made today and avoid any more unfortunate incidents of this kind.
Dr. Tapanjyoti Das
As an MBBS graduate myself and a student of Masters in Medical Science and Technology here, I am aware of the situation as I have to do some duties at BCRTH and the hostels according to our curriculum. So it is my duty to comment on this forum.
What irregularities i found out:
1. After treating students at the hostels the medicine slip needs to be countersigned by some Medical Officer at the BCRTH before the pharmacy accepts it. This leads to more harassment of the fellow students who mostly land up buying medicines from the open market. Also, is this system fair to the prescribing doctor?
2. In a diarrhea case you won’t get ORS, costing Rs.10-15 from the pharmacy which, according to the WHO, should be the primary care available to all centres! However, you will get some antibiotics that might had cost you a couple of hundreds, but which mostly has no value in ordinary diarrhea.
3. There are no proper quality disposable suture materials prefitted with needles available for stitches.
4. and lots more…
Anyways, I might suggest some interventions that might benefit us all:
1. A multi-speciality hospital that Dr.Kalam had laid the foundation stone many years back, but little progress thereafter, is to be put in urgent motion.
2. This hospital should be, in part, open to the general public and the rest should be reserved for IIT students and staff. (You might say why should it be open to all. A specialist or superspecialist physician or surgeon would not stay here without getting adequate no. of cases, even if you give him ten times his ordinary salary for that). The general public should be charged reasonably to get treatment.
3. Apart from well equipped ambulances (with defibrillators etc) there should be appointment of trained paramedics who wil accompany the patient in their critical time. In any advanced country the paramedics are trained in basic life support which is critical for the patient before reaching hospital.
4. A teaching hospital for MBBS and PG studies is needed at the campus urgently as medicine and technology fields are merging rapidly and it would solve this problem too.
5. A proper monitoring system.
…And some innovative ideas that I didnt find quite appealing:
1. The air-ambulance service: If there is not even a proper primary care at the institute how can one think of these extravagant ideas? If it exists, it should be there for only the most critical cases.
2. Recruiting more specialists, e.g. Neurosurgeon, full time: What can he do without a proper neurosurgery OT? Even then he’d get probably one case to operate every 5 years!, unless the hospital is opened to general public.
To survive in a remote area like Kharagpur, you need to be fully equipped and not rely on some good hospital 150km away in Kolkata.
Any more suggestions, anyone?
This is in response to the emails/letters by Mr. Roy daSilva, Ruma Acharya and Subhas Sarkar.
Dear respected alumni,
I am not trying to justify the violence that occured at the Director’s Residence on Sunday, 22nd March. Rather, I would like to explain to you the incidents that led to such a violence. All students, on hearing the death of a fellow student, gathered at the gates of the Director’s Residence to protest by sitting in front of the gate. We wanted to bring to his notice the pathetic condition of the BCRTH, which has not improved even after repeated requests in Open House sessions held earlier this year. Also, as you might already know, this wasn’t an isolated incident, but rather the only one to have reached the unfortunate nadir. At this point, the director’s refusal to come out and listen to our pleas had angered the students. After a while of shouting and slogan-raising, the Director comes out of his residence onto the balcony and begins to address the crowd. I was right there and these were his exact words, “I appreciate and sympathise your gathering…”. Moreover, I swear upon God, there was a smirk on the Director’s face. This was the final provocation. At a time, when students lives were hanging on the balance and at a time when one of them has lost his life due to negligence in providing proper medical facilities over the years, the Director’s reaction was completely unexpected and unwanted. Emotions flowed and tempers flared. That was when the crowd demanded the Director’s resignation.
“–especially in light of the unique approaches he was taking in educating potential entrepreneurs–” seriously sir, you have no idea.
@ Sarala, Parent.
Dear Ma’am,
The institute does get a lot of money to spend on infrastructure development – abt 97 crores a year. It is just that there is lack of initiatives and commitment on the part of the institute administration
Another point I’d like to notify here is that: The institute has banned the entry and exit of students from the campus after 11pm, citing reasons that it is not safe for the students. If the institute was so concerned about the safety of students, then why weren’t the medical facilities on the campus improved. Weren’t these important too??
@ Mr. Roy daSilva
critical times??? Sir, the medical facilities were absent from a very long time, and it took the death of a student for people to realise that fact. This is not a critical time sir. This is time for a renaissance. For those people who actually care that need to sit in a responsible position like the Director of Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.
Dear Parents and Alumni,
For all those who think that the behavior of students here on 22nd March was not befitting the attitude of an IITian can you please explain what have we achieved by just being mere spectators of medical negligence.
Being civilized does not make you a coward and a strong reply to wrongs around you should be first sign of your civilized nature.
A smiling reply by the director saying, “I appreciate your gathering”, in such a condition is a reason enough for what happened.
We are not asses who would bear the burden of oppression without even uttering a word.
Its time everyone needs to realize that it is everyone’s individual responsibility to bring a change and the duty of alumni to support the students to carry forward their attempt to finally bring a change.
If silence does not make inroads into the mind of management and violence did I need not say anything else.
I hope the message from the student fraternity is clear, its time we are treated like humans and not like robots.
We want a change and we will bring it the way it needs to be brought.
—
Abhinav
Purnendu Pattnaik,
OENA,2007
Dear Alumni and Parents,
I would like to draw your attention to the comments written by other people on the Incident Report.
A Similar Incident was reported in the year 1984, when a student died because of lack of medical facilities. 25 years and there is no Change.
We all agree that BCRTH cannot be a specialised hospital, and the idea was to have a primary health care, but the point is not the facility but the attitude of people working there.
Its hard to believe that Oxygen Mast was there but the cylinder was not turned on. Is it not the responsibility of the Doctor in charge.
4000 people report Director Saying “Whats the Big Deal” in the Open House Session. All the 4000 cannot be wrong.
We all would agree violence is not a solution but we were silent for 25 years just to let the shameful incident repeat itself.
IIT Kharagpur is already losing its name and fame to IITB and IITK, with this kind of attitude, I dont know where it will land up.
My Sincere request to all the Alumni and Parents to support the students in everyway possible.Students need to concentrate on studies and its the duty of we all to ensure that the necessary steps has been taken.
I would request all Parents to get more involved and do the needful so as to bring about the much needed change in the whole system in IIT Kharagpur.
Agree with Abhinav, the protest was essential. I have been in Kgp at the time when the discontentment had just started to brew. I had no idea that within a year the face of Kgp will change. It had to happen. Kgp is not the beloved Alma Mater that the older Alumni cherish and remember. It is a breeding ground of corruption, decay, complacency, incompetency and self serving administrators whose mental condition is in as much state of decay as the place itself. Before condemning the actions of the students we should remember that Rohit could have been our brother, friend or son.
However the rot is not just in the administration, it is easy to call the system corrupt, but what are we doing? How are we not corrupt when we make pacts during gymkhana elections and hold a farce of democracy ? How are we any different when we do proxy voting and play our stupid poltu tricks. I read so many comments and more than once I have noticed that there is a rift in the student community itself. Dear Kgpians, this is a great time to evaluate ourselves. We can really change the face of Kgp, if we give up our age old beliefs handed down to us like infallible wisdom by seniors. Say no to pacts, say no to divisive tendencies of few people, say no to anything that you will not accept from the administration or the government.
I quote Anonymous “Do not crush the revolt”.
I strongly believe what the students did was right.
You cannot be silent spectators. It is a bigger sin to be silent on seeing something wrong that committing it.
The inaction and stupid attitude of the IIT management is not something new. It is not that BCRoy Hospital is the only inefficiency in the system
1) Has the IIT Management ever cared about the quality of food in the MESSes ?
2) Is there any solution to the dogs and cows who enter the hostels?
3) Goto any hall and check the drainage or the Toilet area..
4) Where will IIT provide for living of the 20000 students who are supposed to come/
5) See the way 2 students are squeezed in a room that was supposed to be used for only 1 student
6) What is the speed with which the work on the new infrastructure that is supposed to be there?
These I just listed without thinking… So many more that are there!
Someone has to answer…
If they dont, someone needs to get the answer. It is the students. I fully support even the violence that was there. I dont think there was anything wrong.
@ Nishant
I agree there are a lot many questions to the administration. Would you like the answers? Here’s the link ( http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090325/jsp/bengal/story_10720699.jsp ).
I dont know what they think of IITs. What if the director’s own kids go to another IIT and fall victim to a similar corruption, mismanagement and negligence? Would they be so comfortable even then?
I just wonder how many of us would actually think of sending our siblings or our kids to KGP being a witness to the sad state of affairs. If not for Rohit its time we stood up for ourselves and our near and dear ones.
One more question i have. Where are the student representatives from each hall. Aren’t they aware of the news reports?? or the press release?? What is their opinion, i would like to know.
And of course to quote Borna and Anonymous-”Dont crush the revolt” It will go on….
I don’t understand why is there a debate even whether what we did was right or wrong? Does anyone realistically think that silent protests and peaceful negotiations would have led to such huge pressure on the administration and awareness on such a large scale? No way. On the other hand, I think the student community has handled it in a very mature way by not manhandling any authority (even after being provoked in the Open House meeting) and by resorting to peace march resuming classes from the very next day. Doesn’t matter who the new Diro or DOSA is now, they can’t help but listen to the demands and improve the situation. Plus this agitation will definitely go a long way in teaching the students how to stand up for their rights and not being taken for-granted.
Heartfelt condolences to Rohit’s family.
Let us hope that this tragedy triggers the much needed improvements to the primary care infrastructure at BC Roy Hospital.
It is really sorrowful to hear such news on the global platform where, IIT KGP is one of teh leading and premier institite of India. Inspite of this, I am very much sorry to say that our juniors are treated like this. The KGP is supposed to be India pride and this institution has given lot of talents in the gobal platform but even though we are looking for a better infrastructure for healthy environment.Please stop politics and do something so that we can just be gloriful on our instituite.
Prem Kumar Chowdhary
2005 Batch, B.Tech(H),IEM
Patel hall
It’s totally frustrating and unacceptable. If students ransaked Director’s residence then its the right thing which they chose specially when you get a stupid response like that from somebody who is suppossed to lead at the front.
Talking about BCRH, NOTHING has changed since i left the institute in 2000. Now the question is does it take a lot to evaluate the state of the hospital. I don’t think so its actually the attitude that “Let it be like that..this guy is not my son or not related to me so why should i bother”.
My deepest condolence for Rohit’s Family and may god give them the strength to overcome this enormous tragedy.
Totally agree with my fellow alumni’s that LET THE FIRE NOT DIE DOWN.
Abir
B.Tech (Aero)2000
LLR Hall
Those who think that the “Violence” wasn’t right.
First of all, wo koi violence nahi tha, bas ek reaction tha. aur jo log bhi usko ghalat bol ke khud ko mahaan dikhaane ki koshish kar rahe hain ya phir jinko apne pyaare alma-mater ke image ki bahut chinta ho rahi hai, main unse bas ek sawaal poochhna chaahta hoon: agar Rohit aapka brother/son hota to bhi kya aap aisi hi mahaanta ki baatein karte? Itna kuchh hone ke baad bhi Diro/DD/DOSA ka maar nahi khaana, B. C. Roy Hospital ke so called doctors ka sahi-salaamat rahna ye dikhaata hai ki humlog kaafi control mein the.
Jo log bhi non-violence ki baatein kar rahe hain, agar unka son/daughter/brother/sister is tarah se bina kisi baat ke marta tab unke samajh mein aata. Rohit ko 3rd person tha, isliye samajh mein nahi aa raha hai. Sirf “condolences to Rohit’s family” likh dene se uski family ko Rohit waapas nahi mil jaayega. Lekin in corrupt logon ke sath aisa behave karne se hi hum kisi aur ko “Rohit” ki tarah marne se rok sakte hain.
PROUD OF MYSELF AND ALL STUDENTS FOR WHATEVER THEY DID ON SUNDAY.
WE’LL CONTINUE THE PROTEST UNTIL WE GET THE JUSTICE. It is better to fight with administration directly rather than dying like Rohit or Anshu or ……..
aur haan, Rohit se to ab kuchh nahi poochh sakte hain, lekin agar kisi ko kuchh poochhna hai to Gaurav Tomar se poochh sakte hain ki kya unko bhi apne is Institute se abhi bhi utna hi pyaar hai?
Totally agree with my fellow alumni’s that LET THE FIRE NOT DIE DOWN. In logo ko to sabak sikhani hi hain.
I don’t understand why is there a debate even whether what we did was right or wrong? Does anyone realistically think that silent protests and peaceful negotiations would have led to such huge pressure on the administration and awareness on such a large scale? No way. On the other hand, I think the student community has handled it in a very mature way by not manhandling any authority (even after being provoked in the Open House meeting) and by resorting to peace march resuming classes from the very next day. Doesn’t matter who the new Diro or DOSA is now, they can’t help but listen to the demands and improve the situation. Plus this agitation will definitely go a long way in teaching the students how to stand up for their rights and not being taken for-granted.
One should not give reason that IITBs or MITs hospital are also worst because of the fact that Bombay or Delhi is not equal to Kharagpur. Bombay is a city but Kharagpur is a Jungal (Forest not even a village) that’s why we need it.
and no one’s resignation is gonna be accepted after friday’s meeting with chairman.
diro acharya would still be there and ab sabki gandi marne waali hai.
he would be it sure that students suffer to the fullest now.
FILE A CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST THE GUILTY…or just be dumb spectators to see no change in coming years….in the past there have been many students, professors and staffs who have faced the negligence and many have died too..its time to take serious steps now.
What a corrupt and shameless administration it is. They said for the External Inquiry committee, but in disguise they have form a committee which is no more than a same Internal Biased Committee. Very few people might be knowing that Justice U C Banerjee is a near one to Diro D. Acharya. He was an adjunct faculty to the Law School and D Acharya goes to him regularly for advice. So, it is no wonder that again the report would be manipulated as the Press Release and Diro would be re-instated with all others. I have never seen such a shameless person who is still willing and trying all his ways to get back to the chair when nearly 5000 students around 2/3 of the people have shown no-confidence in his management and administration. Same is the case with DOSA. I have never seen such heights of politicization and corruption of such a institute, to which at least 20|% of the country have huge emotions attached and considered to be the temple of education. If such would be happening further, it’s for sure, the IIT would not be more than any bull-shit private institute. So, it’s my humble request to all to agitate the matter, otherwise which we are saying the alma-mater would not remain more than any second grade organization lost the way in mis-management and corruption.
dear friends…
there is one thing…if D. Acharya comes back, he’ll try to make us suffer as much possible…to prevent him from coming back we’ll have to arrange peaceful protest and hunger strike(now violence is not the solution it will project our image of irresponsible students)in institute foyer…to show we are still together on the issues we raised and we don’t want Acharya back in director’s office…
and we have to make sure that no apology is ever sent to administration…..it will project whatever we did was wrong(Black Sunday events)was wrong and we admit this….whatever we did was right and required….
my friends come together and join hands and let the fire not die down
I think there should be an FIR filed. Death by negligence is a criminal offence. Let the court appoint a FAIR commission rather than this corrupt U C Banerjee !
Yes, a FIR under S.304A of Indian Penal Code need to be made at the Police station, that would bring the criminal liability to the administration and the probe could be made by the court itself. Also it’s better to file a tortious negligence case in the court of law, so that the administration should understand that they can’t be the Dictator and rule on us in the way whatever they want to.
Medical negligence and the law- http://www.ijme.in/153oa116.html
when freedom is outlawed only outlaws will have freedom.
It is downright unethical an immoral to have Justice UC Banerjee , DIro’s friend and a adjunct faculty of the Law School to conduct the enquiry. The report is now a foregone conclusion. How can a Bengali judge be appointed? It would have been better if a judge from some other region did an independent enquiry.
This is a response to the comments made by Mr.YPS Suri:
Mr. Suri, it looks like you are more inclined to give a HUG to Prof. Acharya more than anything else. Tell me, if it was your child in place of Rohit, would you be thinking of giving a hug to the man under whose watch such a painful incident occurred? I agree that calm should be maintained and students should avoid any kind of violence. At the same time I think it is absolutely critical that a few key people in the administration take the responsibility of pathetic management of institute/campus facilities, and that their heads should roll. Without such harsh measures nothing will change. You can mark my words. Also remember Prof. Acharya has been associated with IIT Kharagpur for a long time. And therefore he is very well aware how pathetic the medical facility at BC Roy hospital is. I know he himself would not visit the hospital when any medical care was needed. Being the chief administrator, therefore, he is even more responsible than any other director for neglecting these issues. Therefore he should quit. Mr. Suri, if you feel so sorry for him you can be my guest and go give a hug to him.
The most important step right now would be to protest against the appointment of UC Banerjee as the Enquiry commitee member.It should not be a one man committee in the first place.I request the support of the Alumni in this regard.Anyone who has a doubt check UC Banerjee’s credentials on Google to understand what I am talking about.Please please please…..let us give Rohit this last chance at justice.
If his parents had been millionaires they would have filed a case already against the institute, conduced a press conference and would have done everything possible to get their son justice.But they are simple middle class people who still trust the institute that took their son’s life…that it will give him justice…Let us not shatter that trust.
I appeal to everyone….please see through the politics in the whole issue….please wake up.
@YPS Suri
Please ask Prof Acharya if he had hugged Rohit’s father or consoled his family who were perhaps in greater need of consolation than Prof Acharya is right now.If that day on 22/3 ,he had even said a simple “I am sorry ” to the gathered crowd.
All the hugging and apologising can wait till Rohit gets justice
my friends at IIT KGP…
friends we dont have to wait for others(alumnus, politicians, media person, i know few have shown interest)to help us…
it doesn’t matter what people think about us or brand image of IIT KGP….our priority should be to form a healthy student community that can protect us from these incidents to happen in future….
my friends join hands and let the truth prevail..
Mr. YPS Suri i ask you a very simple question….
what authorities did when they had time and all the power to make and implement new plans to improve the life here in campus….the answer is nothing..nothing at all….they exercised their power as dictators……you ask us to HUG him…he doesn’t even deserve to be forgiven…. your heart might have bleed if you had seen his gesture to the crowd gathered out side his bungalow….
my friends come together and join hands….let the fire not die down…the truth has to come out….they have the power to manipulate the truth….but we won’t let it happen….
come together join hands my friends..
While BC Roy hospital is an issue in itself, every part of the campus needs improvement in some form or the other.
1) Greater transparency, to see that there is no misappropriation of funds.
2) Better maintenance of the campus. Even in slums you don’t see as much garbage lying around as you do in some places in kgp. Garbage is often burnt in the campus.
3) Dust bins in the campus. How do you expect anyone not to litter if there are no dust bins?
4) A more efficient complaint system. My wing has a broken water cooler, geyser, and toilet. There should be an agency which repairs them as soon as called.
5) Why does Kharagpur get the same amount of funds as other iits from the central government when it takes so many more students? What is the administration trying to prove. That we are perfectly comfortable in misery?
The list goes on….
Maybe a common maintenance agency can be contracted to take over from A-Z all maintenance in the campus. Individual contracts in halls can be discontinued.
As much as the unfortunate incident of Rohit’s death, shocking are the responses of some of the early alumnus of IIT-Kgp like RDS and YPS Suri. I strongly, strongly condemn their comments !
Sir, you have a lot of experience and have seen life much better than us. But please, do not ask us to be a silent spectator to all the injustices heaved upon us. I am sure, you know Prof. Acharya as a person and possibly can sing songs praising him. He might be a great academician, a fantastic beauracrat among other things. But, I am sorry I am convinced by now, he is not a very morally responsible human being.
Should we just lay down thinking let whatever happen the system is not going to change ? Fellow kgpians, lets get the system change! We can do it.
A few days back, I had posted that I was sorry for being a kgpian. Today, I am proud to be one ! To be one among the many who have the courage to raise their voice against the injustice and do that with utter sense of committment.
I often take pride in graduating from one of the prestigious institutes in the world. Lets get the prestige back !
To all those who protested and made some TOP professionals resign:
Can you guarantee that there will be not be any other tragic death with improved medical facility??
Do you mean to say that, ever in history there has been no death of a student/staff/faculty/ward in any of the 5-6 other IITs, who may be better equipped with medical facility and sitting on a metro??
Do you know who all resigned under such circumstances??
The world watches to see who the next most competent director you will get is. Let see how you handle him – we are all watching.
You all will leave within the next 2-3 years – poor fellows who may join after you leave – unless you have made the first step for what almost every non-BONG wants – shift KGP out from WB.
Dear ANONYM,
Even if there has been death of a student/staff/faculty/ward in all other IITs and other higher institution, whether it means we should not care about hospital? Should we not care about doctor? Should we not care about behavior of administrator? For the time being leave this issue. You know too many person are dieing daily/weakly/monthly/yearly/ in, say, US, right! According to you India government should say what is the need to set up AIIMS like institute, since we know that too many person are dieing daily/weakly/monthly/yearly even in the country that are better equipped in the sense of health care. Tell me, is it the right way of thinking? My saying is we should not watch like a dog. We must make effort to overcome the ill situation. What will happen then we can not think that. This is how we should live. This is how we should think. This was the answer of your medical related objection. Now we tell you that our effort is not only medical but there are many issue where we want to raise the our Institute at the top. If we can not do a small thing for an Institute what we can do for our Mother Land? How situation of our country will improve? If present generation can not make our country developed then who can? For that first, we have to fight with the people who got cancer in their thinking. They are just a selfish one. Doing for themself. Let the dream of our forefather be realized, who sacrifice their life for the country. And this all people are making a hell. So fight is the demand of the time till the death. And we can!!!!! if not, our next generation will do it, we have to give an environment where they can live happily not fight all the time. This is the our responsibility. Come on my brave friends time is waiting for us. We can do it. I am not saying only for our Institution but for country as a whole. System is like now because people who think like you. So please change your thinking and do not make any excuse and do not try to give any other example that shows a negative thinking. Whatever other system may be we have to be placed at the top. We do not want to compare any other system. Tomarrow We will be an example for others. O my friends! do not allow outside elements or rumors to influence your positive opinion.
Let us hope for the best.
Thank you.
Namaste Surya – sahab,
I got my answer from the group who created this trumoil.
I smelled SAFFRON right from all written stuff before and after the event. The overall intention is different.
My dear ex-KGP-ians (only),
we must find the brains pushing this class of people into doing something else other than studying.
I fear the early 1970s coming back in LALLU, RK etc. – hope I am absolutely wrong (more than happy to be wrong here).
Please refrain from posting comments with political connotations.
“Extraordinary Times needs Extraordinary Measures”
“Who is responsible ?”
It was most unfortunate and shoking that a student has lost his life due to the negligence and careless behaviour of the hospital management and staff and what we all know is something has to be done.Firts thing which neds to be done is Whoever is resposnsible has to be punished so that no one should do it again. I read in the scholarsavenue that they have formed various committees for different purpose but there are some questions that needs to be answered first:
Have they lodged a FIR yet ? if they have ( which I think they haven’t yet), has the police questioned anybody? Has the institute consulted with any legal professional ? Is there a FIR for the negligence in case of Gaurav Tomar ( as we know he is also fighting for his life in ICU) ? ultimately it is the same question which left unanswered in the open house that who is resposible ?? and what steps did institution take in this direction ? what is the status of the resignation of Director and Dean of student affairs ?. It is very unfortunate that the same people are running the hospital who were running before.
We were told there is a committee formed for the betterment of B C Hospital. They have stated in the minutes that they already have a committe of doctors which was formed to find out the requirements of hospital. So if the authorities really want to improve the condition of the hospital then why dont they ask the previous committee to give a report and put a deadline on it ? as it has many doctors and medical officials in the committee versus only one doctor in the new appointed committee.
They have appointed a one man committee which is due to give his report in 30 days when the issue is supposed to cool down. It should not be a one man committee and it should be given a shorter deadline. This point can be raised when the student repesentatives meet the Chairman, BOG as he has appointed the committee.
Now some are saying that we should not raise issues other than the hospital as it might dilute the issue “Garam loha peet thanda peetne ko bahutera waqt pada hai”, but my friends this is not about issues, this is about our very own life.
“IITs were Revolution Once, IITs need Revolution now”
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/IIT-Kharagpur-director-quits-after-students-death/rssarticleshow/4302546.cms
This is one news that everyone in campus has seen but probably what you have not seen is its related stories.Just scroll down and go through the related stroies, read not just the headlines but go through the content ( It wont take much time ). When I saw all the news, there was only one question that came to my mind “What’s going on in this country ?” and I am sure that the same question will strike you when you go through the content but for now I want to restrict myself to a small part of this question”What’s going on in IIT ?” , this may seem small but actually it is very important for the country and specially for us IITians. Nobody seems to care about it. Whether anybody does it or not but we need to answer this question ( I can not even write “before its too late” because infact it already is late and the price is paid in blood, we lost A Life ).
Being the oldest among all IITs, IIT Kharagpur should lead the IIT system in 21st century. but what we see instead it is fighting for its own survival. It doesn’t have enough infrastructure for the students and the rate at which they are increasing the number of students versus the rate of building infrastructure and improving facilities are nowhere to compare. IITs have become part of the corrupt political system. IIT Kharagpur was sanctioned Rs. 97 crores by the HRD ministry but they didn’t forward the money. They announced it and thats it, Why ? Why the budget is same for all IITs despite there is huge difference in no of students of all IITs?. seeing the condition of IIT kharagpur what can we expect from other IITs. Some of them doen not have their own campuses and for one IIT even the place is not finalized yet. Infact these IITs have become burdon for existiing IITs in a time when their seats are increasing exponentially too.If that was not enough,our govenrment is very proud of their way of tackling IITs. So What is the future of IIT in 21st century ? Is it promising ? Is this what IITs deserve ? and the answer is “No”. Does anybody care about it ? “probably Yes” . Does anybody do anything about it “Definitely No” .
We all know whatever has happened on sunday it shouldn’t have happened in first place.We all know things needs to be changed, but when I say things I didn’t mean only hospital but other issues like food, security, construction and above all Corruption needs to be addressed too because one of them could be a reason for next Rohit.
What is the solution ? next thing would be Who is going to change things ?.
I want to answer second question first as the answer is very clear and we all know it, we all saw it in the open house, its “Us”. I know it should be the government but if they dont care it doesn’t mean that we don’t care too and it is also our responsibility.We are all IITians and that might not our primary identity but it definitely our second identity, our future and now IIT needs IITians: students and alumni to show it a way out of this nightmare. And now History has given us a chance to improve things, to Clean the System. When I say history has given us a chance I mean it because in my stay of 5 years at Kharagpur I have not seen a jampacked TOAT before, every one was there and I dont know if it ever happened in the history of IIT Kharagpur. and I ask myself again can we do it?, Is it promising ?. I say “Yes”., every student who was in TOAT that night knows ” Yes” , We all know “Yes”. and it has to be done now before we have another Rohit.
“Vision for 21st century IITs”
We all know that with the present system IITs can not sustain much longer as they lack even in the most basic departments of all eg. Health, Hygiene, Accomodation etc. etc. So coming back to my first question, First af all we need no know exactly what needs to be done, a game plan, a direction, a vision for IITs.
1. I saw that people have posted their suggestions on scholarasavenue website and on various blogs, I request scholarsavenue to take this responsibility to collect all the points and forward them to the student’s representatives.
2. The chairman, BOG, Mr. B Muthuraman ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_Muthuraman ) is visiting the campus, we should tell him about the overall condition of IIT and ask him to take all the necessary steps what so ever is needed. We can make a full draft of all the points and suggestions from our side, it should not be vague and it should be made public
3. We can go for a peace protest against what happen, or to show a support to B.Muthuraman that the whole student community is with you if you really want to improve the conditions. and above all it would give a boost to the students moral that we all are still together and it will eliminate the fear of dying the anger and energy of the students.
4. We can ask Mr. B.Muthuraman and Dean of Alumni Affairs to start a campaign or make a forum where alumni, students and faculty can come together and discuss about the 21st century IITs and then form a committee which comes with a vision for IIT Kharagpur ( or all IITs). We can ask Chairman, BOG to take responsibility of this and put deadlines so that it work. We should also put the same idea to Mr. Arjun Malhotra (Distinguish alumnus who is visiting the campus on 6th April) and ask him to take initiative for this and extend all our supoort to him in any way he needs.
5. An alumni campaign has to be started asking for their time not their money. We can form a student committee who want to dedicate themselves for this cause, it has to be voluntary. I know there are people who want to work and it is them who will be the founders of
6. Above all we must need a check system so that there should not be any corruption (mother of all problems). The institute or students can suggest a system that is capable of stopping corruption. One idea would be that administration take initiative to make all their financial statements public every semester or year without any need of RTI filing from any student. If they dont do so student repreesentatives need to make sure that every year they ask for them.
7. A strong student body is needed which can ask the questions. The problem can only be solved when there will be no fear of asking question. The post of vice president of gymkhana should not only focused on the gymkhana issues as there are enough no. of representatives for Gymkhana affairs. All the negative politics like pacts in the campus has to end.
8. One open house session has to be arranged every semester where any one can ask question as everybody has the right to ask questions when it effects his own life, his own future
9. What action the authority has taken, it should be made public as I have seen that scholarsavenue is doing the job right now. It has to have a column where it reviews what is the progress, every week and it should continue till we have a vision for IIT which we can put forward to government that this is the work we have done and now its your work to implement it “Make him an offer that He cann’t refuse” and Government refuses to work or we see any lack in their intensions towards it then they need to give “Moral Resignation”.
We want a better future for us, for IIT, for the country. We all need to stand together for us, for IIT, for the country.
Can we change the system ? “YES WE CAN”
Jeet ki havas nahin, Kisi pe koi vash nahin
Kya zindagi hai thokaron pe mar do
Ho daya ka bhav, Ya ki shaurya ka chunav
Ya ki haar ka vo ghav tum ye soch lo
ANONYM Ji,
What you got that you know. But study is our all time asset that we do not talk about and we can not move without. Still we should keep in mind that study is the way, study can not be a goal. Am I right? So you can not say “doing something else other than studying”. Meaning is we say that tomorrow we shall go to class, but we do not say tomorrow we shall bath, tomorrow we shall brush, tomorrow we shall eat and so on. In the same way I told above thing from that point it should not be meant “this class of people into doing something else other than studying”. Study is our daily unavoidable routine, and we need not to tell, mention and show it that we were/are doing and we shall do.
I am extremely sad & hurt about the incidence that took place on Sunday. Rohit seems to be a brilliant scholar and would have contibute a lot for the country. Being grown up in the campus I can say that staffs and students will be fully engrossed into this matter for sometime as it is a small town & exams are due in late april. So,students have some time to present their case. I have three suggestions :
a) To form a committee of 6-7 people including students, professors, staffs and alumni who will decide on the development of the BCROY hospital & also other hidden issues. May be 2 professor, 2 Students, 1 staff who reside in IIT campus and 1 or 2 alumni. This formation (probably) will be able to look at the problem in every possible direction.
b) I will also urge to think starting up some kind of health education program in the campus, mandatory for the students and optional for the staffs. This will not only help the students to be healthy but will also help in the inter IIT sports results as well as other productive thinking.
c) There should be a mandatory full check up for all the students in their first year and in third or fourth year ( depends on their degree). This will help the doctors remain in track and students will be aware of their health too.
I hope something fruitful comes up soon.
All the best to all of the students in the IIT KGP campus !
I am still at the state of shock and bit incredulous about whatever happening at IITKGP.I would like all IIT Khargapur community act sense and prompt to fix the issue.
I would suggest the students to learn some basic forms of first aid by their own- this may sound naive, but students’ communities here at USA heavily rely on this to get the initial solace.You visit following websites for getting hand-on health advices:
1. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/FirstAidIndex/FirstAidIndex
2. http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/menu/topic/firstaid.html
3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/first_aid/index.shtml
Also be advised to:
4. Note down emergency contacts to get in touch with Kolkata.Remember, Midnapore is one of the least developed district in West Bengal. Never go to Midnapore Hospitals.
5. But, in case of accidents, do your FIRs in IIT campus-it saves lot of legal complication, ultimately, precious time for medication.
6. Try to eat right. Go online and make your own diet chart from the sites like http://www.pyramid.gov/pyramid/index.html
At the end, present student community, particularly students leaders have to be more pro-active because I am not really convinced with our institute personnels. For any help and guidance we, alumni, are always there to support you.
It is rather unfortunate, that Rohit gave his life to indifferent high handed attitude of IIT Kharagpur Administration. It is heartening to know that students are united in this hour of crisis. It apalls to know that Doctor on Duty can not permit the state of art Ambulance without administrative clearance. As may be noted for the last two years, we have gone back by at least 10 years with increasing beurocracy and red tapism. Well this shows the value Institute administration attaches to Human Life. Administration should look at improving qaulity of residents life, instead of blindly increasing student strength at the directive of ministry.
It appears some corrective steps are being taken. Student body should keep up the tempo and pursue without creating any further large scale destruction like that on March 22, 2009.
We need a sea change in attitude at IIT KGP – where every individual is thought as a cheat and corrupt. Adminstration should trust students, faculty and staff – make governance inclusive rather than exclisive and autocratic, the way it is.
Sea Change is what is necessary for this IIT. People keep saying we have been doing it for 50 years. This way, we will go back to 19th century.
Good efforts by students. Keep the tempo. Things will certainly change.
I also share the deep sorrow and anguish that everybody has expressed at the untimely passing away of a bright young engineering student. May Rohit’s soul rest in peace.
I read with great interest the opinions of IIT alumni, some of whom I know for more than 40 years, and some that I don’t know, and the expressions of deep anger and frustrations of current students as chronicled in Scholars’ Avenue, and very similar feelings expressed by recent graduates.
Few things are clear. The infrastructure was not good 40 years ago, but it has deteriorated exponentially, as the competition to get into the100 sq. ft room with a shared bed has increased exponentially.
These are bright young kids who can take India to the next step if we don’t kill them in their health or spirits. While many people are feeling a sense of shame at what is called “hooliganism”, I urge them to read the current students’ e-mails, and you will get a better understanding of the depth of anger, frustration, helplessness and disillusion spanning over years, and vented in this unfortunate incident. I am not condoning violence, but I am trying to understand. The best you could gather from the detailed descriptions is that the level of corruption and incompetence is unbelievable. Politics, as always, is above everything else, and, finally, the authorities’ reactions to the incident is quite deplorable.
Frankly, I see sparks of intelligence and good judgments in many of the students’ e-mails in the midst of this emotional crisis. I also see that some steps are being taken, at least contemplated. Whether they are successfully implemented or get lost in the maze of bureaucracy and corruption, only time will tell.
But there is something to note. While many of the students have directed their appeal to alumni (some have suggested including 1 or 2 alumni in a 7-member committee), the proposals coming out of the meetings avoid any involvement of alumni members. We are the alumni, many of us have reached or are heading into the sunset of our careers. Obviously, we still feel a bondage to our alma mater. Otherwise, there would not have been such a flurry of e-mails. We can make positive contributions to the life in KGP, not just with money, but with our lifetime experience, or more importantly, by bringing in a fresh set of eyes to suggest improvements, or help in benchmarking with other organizations.
The reason why we don’t have a welcome mat is that we may become a source of discomfort to the authorities. But I believe that, if managed properly, the alumni representatives can bring in immense benefits to everybody.
I will share my experience with my American Alma Mater. Every month, I get two e-mails from the Dean, one magazine listing the goings-on in the University, notable events involving students. faculty and alumni members, and regular invitations to join in their social events (we, the IIT-ians, do the last part with picnics and steamer parties). No doubt, contribution is a major motive, But we also develop a bondage to our alma mater, and the authorities have opened themselves up for suggestions and criticisms. And who benefits – the university (quality improvement, publicity), faculty (higher exposure), alumni (networking if they are still working), and present and future students (better prospects for jobs or scholarships for higher studies). Who loses – those who do not believe in transparency, that’s another name for corruption and incompetency.
I understand that Arjun Malhotra, President of IIT Foundation, is visiting KGP on 6th April. One of the charter objective of IIT Foundation is improvement of campus infrastructure. We have funded several projects like Campus Networking. I heard from an ex-President of IIT Foundation that the attitude of the authorities was that “Give us money, we know how to spend it”, although the Foundation wanted to lay down specific benchmarks. I think that money is not the real problem now, enough has been sanctioned, but the accountability is not in place. There should be a grassroots movement from the students. or the Alumni (through IIT Foundation / Technology Foundation), or both, that specific benchmarks be attained within a stipulated time frame.
I only hope that Rohit did not die in vain. There should be an inscription in BC Roy Hospital that records our shame (we failed Rohit), and our accomplishment (the resolve that it will not happen again).
Asok Baral
1969 Mech Eng., Patel Hall
I am too shocked to offer any words of comfort to Rohit’s grieving parents. Tragedies occur despite the best medicare. What we need, along with a better medical care, is a little more caring. A little more compassion.How many Rohits do we need to bring us back to our senses?
The doctor on duty who did not attend to Rohit in time needs to be held responsible.
So many cases are there where either the doctors take their own sweet time in attending to the emergency patients or don’t attend at all because it’s a ‘Police case’ where, by the time the police reaches the person is already dead.
All these heartless doctors need to be held accountable or we’l never solve this problem.
i see a lot of people talking about image of institute and IITians…
i ask them a question….we can’t demand coz we are IITians…
Dear new green-horns:
Please read this, and learn, you new young KGP-ians, how things are in the best metro, famous for medical treatment world-wide (e.g. KKR 2010 – bowling coach dragged an aircraft down here in that city during an emegency for his wife):
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/15/stories/2010031560640400.htm
KGP-ka TEMPO kabhi down muth KARNA, with your ODD-movements. Also read an extract of an email from a IITM faculty (named undisclosed), who was first to respond within silence (till now) among students:
Dear colleagues,
I was horrified to read the report in today’s Hindu about the death of one of our students Raghavendra. If the report is to be believed, Raghavendra was taken to the institute hospital because he had “swooned”. It appears then that there was a delay in getting him to a hospital outside (and to better and more competent medical care) because the ambulance did not arrive on time. The delay may have been 20 minutes (as the students seem to claim) or far less. But aren’t we talking about a life and death situation here? Can a delay, in this case, be forgiven?
So many of us – staff, faculty and students – rely on the institute hospital and the ambulance service. Not everyone has a car and an ambulance on call can be life saving. Is this all our emergency preparedness amounts to? Yes, emergencies are rare – as they ought to be. But there is no excuse for shoddy preparedness.
Regards,
%&^&*$#@!
Associate Professor
Dept. of ———-
I.I.T Madras
Chennai – 600036
KGP