HYDERABAD: The late-night raid at University of Hyderabad men’s hostel room on October 27 has riled the students, who allege that such acts of moral policing restrict their freedom of movement, especially of girls, on the campus. Later, the administration slapped 10 students with notices “for refusal to comply with rules, physical intimidation, verbal abuse” and for dragging the university into needless controversies. Students claim that such activities are attempts to weaken voices of dissent by witch hunting and maligning the students.
“How can you explain that five wardens and security guards entered only one room out of the 150 in the J Hostel or why the police were involved in an issue that could have been internally dealt with? This is moral policing and witch hunting of the girl who had months ago asked why girls can’t go into boys hostel. Instead of responding to her, the administration is raiding hostels,” said Oshani Mazumdar, a student. She added that on several occasions she has also been stopped and inquired by the patrolling team why she was roaming around the campus post-sunset.
The woman student embroiled in issue, in her Facebook post revealed that a warden in an inebriated state maligned her character by saying,“You want every man in the university to be inside the ladies hostel, will you be satisfied then (sic)?”
Students have also raised concerns over restrictions on entering Peacock Lake and Mushroom Rock on social media. A facebook post by Salman Dar reads, “We have witnessed several attempts of moral policing by the admin, like stopping us to go to Mushroom rock after 5.00 pm, prohibiting women to enter men’s hostels. I would also like to request students’ union members & GS-CASH members whom I voted for to listen to the students’ appeal and take some serious steps to stop these.”
Students Union yet to extend support to students
While this is not the first time students have condemned moral policing on campus, this time the cause has also found the support of ABVP. However, the newly-inducted Students Union and GS-CASH, on the other hand, even after three days since the fiasco have not issued any statement in support of the students, much to the disappointment of the students.
A member of the GS-CASH on the condition of anonymity told Express that the body is likely to release an official statement condemning administration’s stance. Judging and shaming people for what they think morally right and wrong is a predominant phenomenon not restricted only to UoH. A male student from Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) calls it ‘rampant’ on the minority central university. Women hostlers have an 8 am-8 pm curfew and are frequently reminded to “chaati dhako’ or cover up their chest.
At the English and Foreign Languages University, the situation is not very different, only more subtle. “Gender roles are very subtly defined with kitchen in women’s hostels and gym in men’s. Visiting the other sex hostel is strictly prohibited, in fact, boys and girls can’t even go to common areas on the campus without being questioned by security guards,” said Torsa Saha. Students have a common reading room and don’t have curfews but raids are frequent, reveal students. Not only are these untimely but women students are required to open their cupboards for inspection, even to male faculty members.