In the right perspective - The DOW-IIT issue (Version 1)

This blog aims to be a kind of ‘hearing aid to the impaired’ to make the uninitiated feel some urge to know about the recent hot debate going around in the insti. Again, for the uninitiated, it is about the question of whether we should be OK about inviting DOW for placements to the campus. There have been voices from various parties regarding this. Picking words from the wonderfully written text from the “Viewspaper” circulated in IITM hostels on 15^th November, 2007:

“IITians opposed to DOW say criteria have to be developed to keep rogue corporations such as DOW out of IITs. While no institute has yet barred DOW from recruiting on campus, some final year students are apprehensive that even discussing the Bhopal controversy will scare DOW away. The only losers, they feel, will be the students who would otherwise have had a shot at core engineering sector jobs… Should engineers concern themselves about the antecedents of the corporations that employ them, or should we restrict our selection criteria (on whom to work for) to the nature of work and the pay package?”

Now I will not put the entire paper here, and will let you go through it yourself. But the important issue I want to highlight here is the general apathy of the majority student community towards this issue.

• I have had a few discussions with some people about this issue. While many were confused about what opinion to form and some against DOW, there was a sizeable opinion to let DOW come for placements. I personally, was also confused about what stand to take. To facilitate an informed discussion about the issue, a Panel Discussion was organized as a part of Reflections on 26^th October, 2007. Those who attended this discussion would be fully aware that we could not ask for a more from that well moderated balanced discussion on this topic. That day I heard speakers who spoke so well that they took their listeners with them on their views every time they spoke. Each point that was raised was well backed up for without any kind of ambiguity. The student representatives raised very good questions, many of which were answered. What irked me was the poor attendance to the discussion from the student body and the conspicuous absence of many pro-DOW junta.
• The depressing fact of the matter is that a majority of the people have uninformed views of their own which they are unwilling to change owing to the massive inertia in them. These people form some opinions on the issue based on the superficial facts and remain obtuse forever, pretending to be less gullible than the rest of the world. There are a few of these who want to look like they are fully informed and shout out their stands loud. My concern is that these people try to impose their ideas on the other gullible people around.
• There have been many issues in the campus in the past where student opinion was asked and the response was not great. We people tend to be too self-oriented and lazy. The only time I remember some IITian students took a united stand on a public issue was the time reservations were introduced in the educational sector. Even this, most junta pursued, because it concerned them directly. If this is the attitude of IITians, I doubt if many other people outside would want to actively involve themselves with fighting against the injustice with the Bhopalis. If we are going to be unwilling to fight for justice for someone else, we are in no position to blame the government for its mistakes in Bhopal. In fact, why should we get support for any pro or anti reservation protests?
• On public issues like this some people tend to remain neutral and un-oriented to any side. On an issue like DOW, you cannot fail to have any opinion at all. Every individual’s stand counts. The mere act of not holding an opinion is a stand for inaction and is pro-DOW. So, it doesn’t remain ‘neutral’ any more.
• Words from “Viewspaper”: “As students whose education has been subsidized to a large extent by tax-payers money, IITians have onerous social responsibility, when it comes to what the public-funded space provided by IIT is used for.” This point is irrelevant. Whether or not our education is subsidized, as a part of humanity, and as a citizen of this country, we have a duty to respond.
• The matter in front of us, in perspective, is not whether DOW is really criminal, or about who is to blame for it. The argument that the pro-DOW junta put up that if DOW faces resistance in IITM, it will go to IITB and IITKgp is absurd. It is like you have riots and an open shop nearby and u coolly say, “Arey yaar. Someone is anyway going to steal something from the shop. Why should I not steal a small thing from it?” Why should our decisions be influenced so much by what the other IITs do? Are we really beggars hungry for jobs? I really doubt if the placement in IITM is so sick. The more important issues are:
1. Did DOW want to come to IITM to gain legitimacy in India? Does IITM’s stand send a message to the country? My personal response to these questions is undoubtedly positive.
2. What can WE do about it to make as best an impact as possible, whether or not we decide to act for or against DOW?
3. If we do decide to screen companies in placements, how to go about it?
• There are a few people who are against the HS department lobbying against DOW in the insti. I don’t understand their cribs. The HS department was instituted in IITM to instill humanitarian principles in the students. If you feel they are unsuccessful in fulfilling this objective through the courses that they offer, it doesn’t mean that they are incompetent to fight for this cause. After all, they too are a part of this insti, and they have a right to hold an opinion as a member of this democratic country just as you are too.

Now, in a nutshell, I request all readers to form their own opinion about this issue, for or against (BUT NOT NEUTRAL). Please don’t add fuel to this hopeless scenario by blaming others about what has happened and what ought to happen. Think about what YOU can do positively about it. Lastly, if you are unable to do anything about it, at least express your unambiguous, well informed opinions, when concerned parties ask you about them.

Thank you.

By Narayanan and Kedar.