Patriarchal and sexist rules that seek to control the lives of young women in hostels in many colleges across India are not a new thing. While there is a 'curfew' hour for women to return to hostels, there is no such thing for men. In many colleges, there are dress codes for women -- 'no shorts, no skirts'. However, once again, there is no such thing for men.
Now, the National Institute of Technology, Calicut (NIT-C) has proved that it is no different. A circular has been issued by the hostel warden asking female students "not to roam with boys" inside the residential campus.
The notice, put out by warden, reads, "Inmates of Ladies hostel and Mega Ladies hostel are strictly instructed not to roam with boy students inside residential campus. We get lot of complaints in this regard. If any girl found along with boy student inside residential campus, severe action will be taken against her including suspension and expulsion from hostel."
Read that again. "If any girl found along with boy student inside residential campus, severe action will be taken against her including suspension and expulsion from hostel."
Just in case you're wondering, the notice wasn't issued in the boys hostel.
After the regressive circular went viral and irked many on social media. including Kozhikode District Collector Prasanth Nair who called it "pathetic" and warned of disciplining authorities who had issued it, it was withdrawn.
But the withdrawal came only after students of the college took to social media to protest against the circular.
"Dear NITC, does your moral consciousness ends on seeing boys and girls together. And why the action is only against 'her' (sic)," Muhammed Afsel, an NIT-C student, asked on Facebook.
Meanwhile, defending the circular, G Unnikrishnan, Dean of Students' Welfare and a professor at NIT, said that it was issued only in the interest of the security of female students after complaints from people living in faculty accommodations near the ladies hostel.
The residential campus, situated across the road from the main campus, houses two ladies hostels and residential quarters for the faculty.
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