Though on the surface normalcy looks to have returned to the strife-torn NIT, Srinagar with Minors exam beginning and the institute exempting some of the outstation students who do not want to appear but the scar left in this ideological divide would take some time to heal. One positive outcome of such a disturbance is at least students in other parts of the country have come out in solidarity with the protesting NIT students. In this direction students of Jammu University filing a complaint with National Human Rights Commission in favour of outstation NIT students seeking safety, security and formation of a fact finding team to probe the recent unrest is laudable. These students have been staging peaceful marches in Jammu carrying National Flag sending a message of solidarity. But there were some elements wanting to foment trouble with political parties backup would have worsened the already vitiated atmosphere. The initiative to move NHRC coming from a law student of the university is a welcome move and believing in justice deliverance power to get the legitimate sense of security and freedom should be a warning for those who wanted to foment trouble. Such initiatives should be supported by the people and parties irrespective of alliance and allegiance and not confining to rhetoric for some photo ops and few lines in the media. A single man’s effort is highly appreciable especially where students have no representative body recognised by the University of Jammu like in Punjab, Haryana and New Delhi. NIT issue should be an eye opener for students and joining hands at the time should send a right message to the power corridors and local outfits to exercise caution and restrain in future in dealing with such a situation. Freedom to study anywhere by anyone cannot be sacrificed on the parochial attitudes and nobody can dictate its terms on another. Let education be free from such narrow-minded attitudes. NIT Srinagar has been at the centre of controversy since 1st April when clashes broke out between outstation and local students following India’s defeat by West Indies in the World T20 Cup.
