Patriarchal politics coming to a naught
With girl students forming nearly 70% of the total student population, Panjab University (PU) elections are no longer considered a male bastion.
With girl students forming nearly 70% of the total student population, Panjab University (PU) elections are no longer considered a male bastion.
The increase in the population of girl students has forced authorities to scrutinise several campus rules.
Girl students have been demanding representation for the post of office bearers in student parties.
Moreover, they conducted a hunger strike three days ago, demanding that girl students be provided 24-hour access to the campus library.
They also demanded that the university increase the number of days for outings for girl students and permit guests to stay with them in their hostels.
Following the hunger strike, the varsity allowed girl students to access the library up to 1am.
“Why does the administration restrict us to hostels alone? Why can’t we roam around on the campus throughout the day? You can’t have a different set of rules for us. The environment on the campus is changing and we have 70% girls at PU,” said chief patron, National Students Union of India (NSUI), Simranjit Kaur Gill. The post of chief patron was by the party for the first time. The increase in the number of girl students on campus has forced student parties to give due representation to them.
Some parties, including the NSUI and Panjab University Student Union (PUSU) have put up parallel lists containing names of women party officer bearers.
Moreover, the campus saw several posters containing photographs of several women leaders. Girl students have been actively participating and leading election campaigns for several parties.
The time is not far away when the campus would see a women president, believe a few students.
“The voices of women count and their issues matter because they are in the majority. With women participation, I foresee money power and violence on campus dying slowly,” said a student of Bachelor of Dental Studies and president of All India Students’ Association, Chandigarh, Navkiran Natt.