On May 18th, a distressing incident occurred at an esteemed private university campus in Noida, where a 21-year-old girl pursuing a BA in Sociology was fatally shot in broad daylight. The perpetrator, a victim’s classmate, subsequently took his own life in his hostel room. While violence is not unheard of in the national capital region, the act of one classmate killing another within a university setting is a rare occurrence.
As a student at Allahabad University in the early 1990s, I vividly recall witnessing an individual roaming the campus with a double-barrel gun. I was enjoying a cup of tea near the student union hall when, mere minutes later, gunshots rang out, and I witnessed the assailant fleeing the scene. It is worth noting that the alleged killer and the victim were not enrolled university students. Although conflicts between student groups were commonplace in those days, I had never heard of a classmate resorting to murder following a breakup or disagreement.
While it is natural for friendships to form and dissolve among undergraduate students, the tragic incident of a friend turning on another and then taking his own life on campus demands a comprehensive analysis from various perspectives. Educational institutions symbolise peace and celebrate diversity, carrying the responsibility of instilling values in their students. Naitik Shiksha, or moral education, has always been integral to the curriculum. However, these values are not effectively disseminated in the competitive world of the 21st century. This irony highlights a flaw in our social and educational system, where the values we profess in public often go unheeded in our private affairs. While students and teachers celebrate Gandhi Jayanti on October 2nd to pay respects to Mahatma Gandhi, do they embody his core principles? If the lessons of truth and non-violence taught in the classroom fail to find, reflection at the campus conflicting values will only sow chaos instead of peace within society.
Sadly, attacks on school and college girls have become distressingly common in the region, taking various forms ranging from acid attacks to murder. In recent years, there have been instances of students violently assaulting teachers in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu. Despite their gravity, these occurrences seem to have failed to generate the necessary fervent debate within society. Could this affect the globalised world, where violence dominates significant airtime on media and entertainment platforms?
Why have films, web series, and TV shows become increasingly aggressive day by day? Even advertisements for cricket and football matches employ aggressive terminology. Aggression, revenge, and war terminology have become standard practices to generate excitement among audiences, whether in WWE, video games like PUBG and Call of Duty, or rap music. Hostility has proven to be a successful formula for the entertainment industry. However, what effect do live broadcasts of violent events and wars have on the impressionable minds of teenagers? Many youths have begun posting photographs of themselves brandishing guns and revolvers on social media. Could this be an influence of local goons or mafias on university students?
We cannot ignore learning from the cases of shootings on school and university campuses that have been on the rise in the United States. While there are no strict regulations regarding weapons in the US, how can Indian universities prevent students from bringing guns onto campus?
The killing of a classmate on a university campus is a distressing incident that raises significant concerns for academic institutions. It calls for a thorough investigation to uncover the motives behind this tragic event. Such occurrences prompt a revaluation of the role of education in cultivating a society that values peace and harmony. It is necessary to reflect on whether our expectations regarding values and character development within educational institutions must be revisited.
Multiple factors may have contributed to this incident, including the influence of a feudal and patriarchal mindset and broader societal issues. Therefore, conducting a comprehensive investigation is essential to understand the various dimensions of this occurrence and determine the root causes. Additionally, initiating mental health assessments for students and teachers is crucial in identifying underlying factors such as aggression, stress, and depression on campuses. The alarming number of student suicides in India, as reported by the National Crime Records Bureau, further emphasises the pressing need to address mental health issues among the youth. Recent suicides in IIT-Madras have prompted institutions to establish 24/7 student counselling centres, and other academic institutions should follow suit.
The incident in Noida also highlights the intolerant behaviour of the assailant. Human beings tend to surround themselves with like-minded individuals. In educational institutions, unless empathy and a culture of appreciating diverse viewpoints are promoted, students will remain intellectually and emotionally weak. An emotionally unstable and intellectually fragile individual will always strive to win at any cost. In a patriarchal society where feudal mindsets persist, rejection from a girl is often linked to notions of honour, masculinity, and community pride. This aspect may have fuelled the anger that led to the girl’s murder.
The killing of a university student involves critical psychological aspects, including aggression, violence, mental health and well-being, relationship dynamics, social and cultural influences, coping mechanisms, and stress. Understanding these factors can help shed light on the motives behind the crime and provide insights into preventive measures. It is crucial to approach these aspects with sensitivity, and a comprehensive investigation, may also be helpful for other institutions.
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