Editor,
“You are a bastard ”…the whole corridor echoed; the rumblings continued to pour and instantly a crowd gathered of departmental heads, other teachers, fellow students, people from neighbouring departments & even security. The so called ‘academician’ is shouting at the top of his voice and repeating the same words as if he in a practicing mood of English rhymes. If NEHU is an academic institution then teachers are supposed to be our source of knowledge. Knowledge makes people humble and modest. But the modern teacher seems to have thrown all these qualities to the winds and is pampered to be arrogant, loud, foul-mouthed and with uncontrollable rage. We the students (3nd sem) were given a test and were assigned to sit in a classroom. The test was supposed to be from 9.30-10.30 am on 19th Oct. But the NEHU bus reached the campus at 9.30 am. We literally ran to be in the class and were still 5-10 minutes late. This is quite common. We requested our teacher to give some extra time for which he agreed. But the next class was starting at 10.30am and we were still writing. Our teacher told us to shift to the lab so that the next teacher could continue his class in the same class room. We agreed to shift and six of us shifted to lab and started to write. Four more completed and left in less than 10 minutes while two of us were still writing when bang came the voice addressing our teacher-on-invigilation with a resounding yell, “You are a bastard…you are engaging my students”…this is encroachment.”.The teacher was writhing with anger and a true incarnation of a demon. We were aghast at this sudden attack. Why could he not go to his class and start without us? Why was he after us when we were the only two who were still writing and were about to submit our answers scripts? What if the other students who submitted their work earlier to us deliberately bunked his class and he instead of questioning the students is venting his anger on a colleague? The whole affair seemed to be an attempt to insult his colleague. We too walked out after submitting our test papers and were not keen in attending his class. We even forgot to rescue our considerate teacher who gracefully allowed us a few more minutes of time keeping in view our practical difficulties (of reaching on time) so we could complete our test paper. We were told by our seniors about this teacher who is famous for his foul tongue and abusive language. For him “the Head is the Bitch and Colleagues are Bastards”. Despite his erratic behaviour it is surprising to see that the faculty members who are at the receiving end of his ire and arrogance remaining silent. The entire episode has left a bitter memory. I feel ashamed to call him my teacher. I request the Vice Chancellor to immediately install CCTV cameras in all departmental corridors which are to be connected his chamber. This will give him a idea of what is happening in different departments. Secondly, there should be a teachers’ and students’ grievance cell where complaints can be made against such gross misbehaviour by a faculty member. It will help our teachers to adopt better behaviour and of addressing the complaints rather than practicing judo and karate with colleagues. Thirdly, the rules in favour of enforcing discipline (at different levels) should not be aimed only at penalizing but reforming. Lastly the teachers must be exposed to behaviour improvement programs and social skills so that they understand the difference between professional and personal relationships.
The University teachers are meant to promote the educational status of tribals but if they spread their nasty culture here then they should go back where they came from.
Yours etc.,
NEHU student
Name withheld on request
Whither MeECL?
Editor,
There was a lot of hullabaloo about the state electricity board going corporate but till date that so called corporate governance and management isn’t visible. All the big talk of bringing surplus electricity all over the state is actually just a mirage, because every time I commute between Shillong and Jowai towards Saipung people from villages like Mawryngkneng and Sohryngkham often tell me that the state electricity board keeps sending huge bills that would put everyone to shame since it hardly provides proper electricity especially in the evenings. Now this is outright, in-your-face extortion. If privatization of a sick units like the MeECL is meant to revive it then it also ought to be held accountable through a process of social audit.
Yours etc.,
Dominic S Wankhar
Shillong-3