On October 13th, the twenty-one year Pinky Chauhan succumbed to her burn injuries. Life was snuffed out of this young student of the Government Post-Graduate College for Women, after she had attempted to self-immolate on September 29th., while participating in a protest against the ‘intentionally poor’ marking system, and the arrogant attitude of the College authorities. Pinky was a second year BSc student. The overall result of the students in her class was extremely poor, with almost 90 per cent failing to obtain pass marks. Pinky was awarded a zero in her Physics paper, which left her devastated. After the tragedy though, it was revealed that she had in fact scored 60 marks out of a possible 100. Apparently the protests had led to the college authorities re-examining the papers. which reversed the fortunes of quite a few - including Pinky. But Pinky was not able to see that. She had already given up her life – some say ‘mindlessly’. Was this highly emotional girl recklessly egged on by some colleagues? One may never know the truth. Her family has put the blame squarely on the college authorities, and some teachers whom they believe were grossly unfair to Pinky. The family has moved court against the college authorities and these teachers. The family has found support from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which has sought the intervention of the Prime Minister and HRD minister (Smriti Irani) in the matter. They want an investigation into the circumstances leading to Pinky’s death.
Pinky was among the 1,000 odd protesters who raised their voice against the authorities of Government Post –Graduate College for Women at Gurgaon and Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, for giving them low marks ‘intentionally’. Pinky is said to have named five lecturers, including four women, in her statement, accusing them of forcing her to set herself ablaze, according to her family members.
While failing in examinations may not be a new phenomenon, and student unrest in the wake of poor examination results is not unheard of either, some questions do come to the fore in this case. How is it that virtually 90 per cent of the students scored poor marks in the same examination? If that is so, should the fault lie only with the students? Should not the authorities have anticipated such volatile protests after the results were declared? The Principal of the Women’s College was transferred and relieved from her duties, perhaps with a view to calm down the protesting students. But couldn’t Pinky’s death have been avoided? If a re-examination was undertaken, following the protests, why didn’t the authorities convey this decision to the rampaging students? These questions will have to be answered by the authorities in the days to come. “I detect a bigger conspiracy behind the whole episode,” says Arun Chauhan, the dead girl’s brother. “The college authorities are completely in the wrong. Even some of the teachers, whose names I cannot disclose right now, are equally to blame for instigating Pinky,” he says. He adds that the teachers simply ignored Pinky, when she threatened to set fire to herself, clearly pointing to their irresponsible act. “They ignored her threats and did not even try to stop her when Pinky set herself ablaze”, he says. Chauhan is convinced that the teachers played a sinister part in his sister’s death. “Otherwise how is it that the fire could not be dowsed. Pinky was burning for several minutes before she was taken to the hospital,” he states. The protest took a further ugly turn as the incensed students then vandalized the college premises, including the Principal’s office. Their single aim is now to bring the college administration to its knees. The present incumbent Principal, S Gyanender, has chosen to describe Pinky’s death as an ‘incident’. “What can I do? I was not even the Principal when this happened. It is an incident, a very unfortunate one,” he says. Gyanendra adds that the college has virtually no role to play in the examinations. “The examinations are conducted by MDU. Even the invigilators at the examination halls are from MDU,” he remarks. “If at all, it is the MDU that should face the scrutiny for the events that have unfolded,” he says. Arun Chauhan will have none of this. “I demand that justice be done. My sister was not a bad student and could never have failed - as the subsequent marks have shown,” he says, fighting back tears. “I want the college authorities and the lecturers behind bars!” he exclaims. In his petition he has clearly mentioned to the CM that he wants justice for his sister; it will also ensure that no other student would need to die just over marks
Pinky is gone forever. The tragedy and horror have played out. Life will soon become ‘normal’ and the students will continue with their studies. They will face examinations again. But what is quite clear is that a definite step must be taken by the government to ensure that such events do not take place again. “Obviously the event is a pointer to a deep rooted malaise in the education system. It is a stark reminder of the growing indifference of college authorities, and of the administration and govt. in general. They always prefer to turn a blind eye to the underlying problems,” says Mr. Basit, a resident of Gurgaon. “Such horrifying incidents are entire unacceptable and do not augur well for our society,” he says. Basit is now apprehensive about continuing his daughter’s education in Gurgaon or admitting her to a government college once she is done with her Class XII examinations. “I have myself studied in a government college, but the state of affairs now prevailing and the overall environment gives me the jitters,” he says.
Mr Dharmendra, a social activist, blames both the students and the teachers for such a bizarre incident. ”Hopefully the government at the Centre will take some serious action against MDU as well as the college,” he says. He also believes that there is a deep-rooted apathy prevailing in the system itself. He questions the college security and its preparedness, given that the students appeared enraged and looked perfectly capable of doing something ugly. The College even has CCTVs in various places within the premises. “Why were they not working when such protests were taking place?” he asks. Why indeed? There are many questions that still remain unanswered. They need to be urgently addressed…for Pinky’s sake.
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