Dr. Seema Singh, a professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences of IIT KGP, has a history of harassing her students. In the past three days, we have received a video a day, thereby legitimizing the controversial allegations made against her in the past by her students. There were regular complaints made by the first-year students regarding her unprofessional conduct in the past, during offline semesters.
In the first video, she goes on to ridicule a student’s mail, in which they had asked for a few days of leave as their grandfather had passed away. She dismissed the request, stating that the government has placed restrictions on all gatherings, including funeral processions, and that the student wouldn’t have sent such a “silly mail” if their grandfather had died- rather they’d be mourning his death. She persists that the death of a family member is no bar to being able to attend the entirety of her lectures. Although the institute has already done away with the attendance requirement, Dr. Seema Singh states that she won’t give attendance to anyone who hasn’t turned their camera on for the whole class. We can only assume that she must have kept some marks for attendance.
From the second video, Dr. Seema Singh turns furious, as a student of hers says “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, and allegedly doesn’t stand for the national anthem plays, which is a norm in her class. Even though it is not mandatory by law to stand up for the National Anthem. She then goes on to abuse the student and his family.
The third video sees Dr. Seema Singh outright bullying her class, referring to the Prep course students, who are from the SC/ST/PwD categories, by repeatedly using expletives. She threatens to fail them and dares them to complain to the SC/ST/Minorities Ministry. She goes on to declare immunity from all kinds of disciplinary actions against her and that no authority will be able to change her decisions about how she wishes to conduct her classes.
#End_Casteism_In_IIT is trending in India right now. The Hindu and News18 have published articles on the videos that have surfaced. Dr. V.K. Tiwari, Director IIT KGP, held a meeting with the staff and the student senate today in the evening where this topic was also discussed. When Shivam Singh, Vice President, Technology Students’ Gymkhana, asked what measures will be taken against Dr. Seema Singh, the Director refused to divulge any details but assured of some action.
The meeting today, held only for those on campus, was not only about the controversy surrounding Dr. Seema Singh. The vaccination of the students on the campus was also touched upon, along with some other important matters.
We condemn the acts of Professor Seema Singh, the insensitivity especially during these testing times was absolutely uncalled for.
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