Cruelty and violence

Cruelty and violence combined pervades the society. No-holds-barred attacks on other human beings are reported every day. Violence begets counter-violence. Campus violence has existed since the evolution of the present-day-like campus. When pre-degree section was also part of colleges, the institutions were unwieldy. Pre-degree students, in their formative years, could be easily influenced by political parties, which vied with each other to corner groups of college students. Every one thought campus violence would be abated after separation of pre-degree from colleges. The murder of a police officer on the Changanasserry NSS Hindu College premises the other day makes it clear that even though college students’ strength has come down after separation of pre-degree section, violence has not come down.

We speak about the need for extra-curricular activities on campuses. But the worst kind of extra-curricular activities can be witnessed on campuses in the form of attacks on political lines. Actually, the energy of the youth should be utilised for social work. Part of the vast campuses can be set apart for bio-farming. Clusters should be allotted to student groups for developing bio-farming. The services of agricultural officers should be made available to the groups for guidance. Some workers should also be drafted to fulfil the projects. Completion of the bio-farming projects should be included in the mark-book.


There should be gradation in the exam results in accordance with the completion of the project. The feeling should be inculcated in the minds of the students who are physically and mentally vigorous that there are well-meaning activities other than political manoeuvring. Politics itself should have part of social service activities.


The murder of the police officer should be an eye-opener to the powers-that-be. No leader should justify campus violence. Students alone are not the bulwark of political parties against opponents.

It is for the first time in Kerala that a police officer has laid down his life on account of campus violence. Campus-active political parties are showing one-upmanship to prove their strength. These activities are gaining strength but the quality of higher education in the State is coming down compared to other States.

We revel at being the most literate State. But the higher education sector is not that illuminating. At the national level, we have knowledge commission. But the knowledge we have acquired at the individual level is generally appalling. Some students are brilliant, as they are keen to acquire knowledge. Others wallow in intellectual filth by way of manoeuvring.

The conduct of many of the students even in schools is unbecoming. Instead of developing life-long friendship and commitment, some students behave like they hate fellow beings in class-rooms. Preventing other students one way or other, by hooks or crooks, from scoring better marks is the specialisation of a few upstarts. Instead of undergoing better learning process, they envy those who take pains to study. Some of them think that others are their punching bags. Teachers by themselves cannot take care of all these problems. Character and conduct is developed from home. Parents should take pains to explain to their children not to harm others. But the children automatically learn from the tricks employed by the parents against fellow human beings.

An attitude of service to others should be developed. At least, others should not be hurt.