Paotinlen Chongloui (Lenn)
Nothing and everything, the Tata name still attracts and brings in a feeling of ethics and trust. But the real question now is what is really happening in TISS campuses that makes TISS students “Hiss”. There are protests and murmurs of things are hard to imagine for a brand such as TISS.
At the first glance, commoditisation of education and neglect of higher education by successive governments have led to this unfortunate turn of events; but if you probe deeper and your will see the bigger picture. TISS is home to the poor and marginalised educated who aspire to match step by step with their fortunate countrymen who happens to be born in luckier homes. The reason for supporting their struggle should not be a matter of ST/SC or dalit scholarship. Injustice is at the root cause of the problem. What was promised and what deal they get should match; however, midway the institute did a volte face, in a breach of trust demanded fees and hostel fees which is way beyond the means of most students especially in Guwahati campus who had joined here since they could support themselves from the money they received as scholarships. Every citizen must know what is being done to higher studies in this country in the name of the republic. The fight should be against injustice of all kinds whether it is for a Vemula or a Sarma. This can also be viewed as dilution of the Tata's vision and moving away from its mandate. It is a complete breach of trust. The threat to higher education is a good starting point for attacking the pillars of the nation. The education in India is for getting jobs mostly with the utility factor uppermost in our thinking but a few the students of TISS are a different breed who wants to work for people and become the thinking head amongst the motley production of non thinking heads in sciences or STEM. I am not degrading science here. I am trying to establish the way we treat science in India. TISS and social sciences did make students think of society and politics. Social scientists and social sciences are the thinking part of education which can have impact on society in matter other material progress that needs to survive and prosper. The gains, advancement and prosperity brought about by Management, medicine and engineering means nothing if social justice eludes us. The attack on TISS is an attack on social justice.
A few of us attended TISS Guwahati Press conference on being invited and spoke from the dais and are willing to walk the extra mile with you. The Kuki Students’ Organisation and Inpi Chamber Society which is an organisation of indigenous entrepreneurs trying to restore the economic rights of indigenous people to the rightful people would like to show our solidarity with TISS students fighting for their rights.
