At least 50 GNLU Gandhinagar students coordinated to send separate protest emails to director Dr Bimal Patel last night over his unsolicited lecture against drug use during the memorial service for student Jumika Yeptho, who died of tuberculosis meningitis on Thursday.
According to several sources, it is understood that during a memorial service held by the college for Yeptho on yesterday (Friday 27 October), following two minutes of silence for the late Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access (IDIA) scholar, Patel continued to hold a lecture for 5 to 10 minutes about drug abuse.
Since student bar associations are forbidden at GNLU, more than 50 GNLU students then coordinated to individually send the same email to Patel (see below) at exactly the same time last night, writing that Patel's “statement insinuates that there existed a relationship between drug abuse and Jumika's cause of illness, and subsequent demise”.
To our knowledge, Patel did not respond to any of the students' emails or offer an apology or explanation.
We reached out to him for comment earlier today but have not received a response.
Last month we had reported that GNLU's registrar had gone on a witch-hunt, allegedly going so far as to impersonate students on WhatsApp, in a bid to track down the owner of a packet of marijuana.
And in 2013, a GNLU student had filed an FIR for being frisked when entering the campus and fined for possession of a cigarette packet, with the Gujarat high court judge saying in an order relating to the complaint in 2016 that Patel had turned the NLU into a “human-rights-violating oligarchy”.
No evidence of drug use
It is understood that when Yeptho was first admitted to hospital with hallucinations and other symptoms around September, the doctor had carried out several tests on Yeptho to confirm that his symptoms were not caused by narcotics. All those drug tests came back negative, with subsequent diagnoses confirming advanced tuberculosis meningitis that had invaded 30-40% of his brain and were the cause of his symptoms.
However, according to our sources, Patel at the memorial talked at length about the ill effects of drugs, exhorting youths to live without drugs and that drugs would not be tolerated on GNLU's campus.
One student told us that Patel “took the opportunity to 'warn' and 'caution' everyone about the ill effects of alcohol and other prohibited substances. He said that one can 'survive' without the use of these instances and that as students we must refrain from making use of them. His statement was made to insinuate that Jumika’s passing away as a result of TB meningitis, a very serious, life-threatening condition, was actually due to the excessive use of drugs and alcohol, which is a blatant lie.
“There’s no evidence, whatsoever, of him ever having used such substances on campus, and students around him have, in the past, attested to the fact that he never indulged in any of these activities.”
“That was not the right time to talk about it,” another student told us. “Everyone in this college now thinks that Jumika was a drug user. He was there to respect Jumika's life and he totally dishonoured him.”
“This university didn't do anything for Jumika,” added the student, noting that he wasn't aware of Patel or the administration even having visited Yeptho in hospital. We could not independently confirm that claim.
The IDIA organisation that had helped Yeptho and other underprivileged students to crack the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) exam, had raised money from donors in September to pay for Yeptho's emergency medical treatment to attempt to save his life.
IDIA founder Prof Shamnad Basheer had sent out an email yesterday about Yeptho's death, also noting that any rumours of Yeptho's drug use were unsubstantiated and the unfortunate result of prejudice:
The doctors at the hospital in Ahmedabad (where he was first admitted) also tested for drug use and all came out negative. A reputed neurologist confirmed to me that all of his actions in the days leading up to hospitalisation (not being able to co-ordinate movements, speaking out of turn in class etc) were all the result of the TB bacteria attacking his brain cells (apparently 30-40% of his brain was infected with the bacteria). And not drugs!
Just goes to show us the power of prejudice!
Anyway, we need to now work harder at redressing some of these issues…and creating an ecosystem that is less harsh to those at the margins. One that celebrates plurality and actively embraces difference and diversity.
One student told us that Patel's statements had dishonoured the life of a very promising student and his tragic death:
Jumika was an extremely strong, dedicated, kindhearted young individual with a bright future and his demise is a serious loss to the legal community. Mr Patel’s statements were uncalled for, completely unbecoming of a man of his stature, and a dishonour to the life go a beautiful young man, who was in no way responsible for his own death.
People like Bimal Patel need to be more sensitive and aware of their responsibilities as leaders of prestigious legal institutions and learn to understand that abusing their power in such a manner can have serious repercussions for their reputation.
Jumika deserves to be remembered with pride and fondness. He was a boy from an underprivileged background, who fought against all odds and made it to a prestigious educational institution in the hope of a better future.
Coordinated email sent by 50 GNLU students individually to Patel
Dear Sir,
This is with regard to the mourning session held today morning in honour of Jumika Yeptho.
During the assembly, after observing a minute of silence, you proceeded to caution the students regarding drug and alcohol abuse. As important as the matter of drug abuse may be, your statement insinuates that there existed a relation between drug abuse and Jumika's cause of illness, and subsequent demise.
However, with all due respect Sir, in the presence of evidence to the contrary, this comment was highly unsolicited at an occasion meant to honour his life.
We believe this was disrespectful to his legacy. We, as a student community, feel ashamed that we let an incident like this slide by when it occured, without raising an objection. We are deeply hurt and saddened by the incident.
We believe Sir, and we hope you agree, that it would be unjust to let Jumika's legacy be tarnished in such a manner.
We therefore, request you to kindly reconsider your statement today morning and send out an email clarifying the same.
We hope you understand our sentiments and respect them.
Sincerely Yours,
The Student Community
threads most popular
thread most upvoted
comment newest
first oldest
first
Unfortunately, most heads of Universities in India think of themselves as the guardians of morals, while themselves being narrow-minded,autocratic, intolerant conservatives, who may in fact be borderline bigots.Take for example the reprehensible attitudes of the BHU and Mumbai University Vice-chancellors.
All of us who have been a part of the Indian education system can attest to the arbitrary functioning of these institutions of higher "learning".
I often wonder how they would function under the restrictions that they put on students' lives. Would they be tolerant of:
- frisking (GNLU)
- poor mess food (everywhere?)
- unrealistic curfews (BHU expected women students back by 5:30!)
- administrative f*** ups (MU)
- absolute abstinence
Tragic and insensitive.
2. "Since student bar associations are forbidden at GNLU..." - don't know from where are you getting this. It is the lack of interest from students that we don't have such a student bar association in GNLU. The lack of interest of students in student affairs is evident from the fact that only 50 people wrote the email, out of 1000. Other instances includes only 30-40 people from the 2013 batch (out of 180) turning up for a protest last semester (the memorandum was signed by 200+, still only a 5th of the student body at GNLU - reported by LI). The lack of student interest is obvious. Students should start taking these things seriously and have the will to do something, rather than blaming bimal and cribbing about his 'draconian' policies forever. A word of advice to the GNLU student community: stop cribbing and being whatsapp & email warriors throughout your 5 years here, and for once actually do something with regard to your issues, and look for ways to solve them.
In any case, I'd like to see where exactly is it written that student bar associations in GNLU are forbidden. Also, for this specific instance, the mail could have been sent through the SWGRC (the committee of elected class representatives - watered down version of a student bar association, where the elected members do not even bother to attend meetings called on by Bimal to listen to the problems of the student community - again, student apathy).
3. As a matter of fact, the deceased, Mr. Jumika Yeptho had an academic back of one year as well. I'm sure someone will clarify why he was given an academic back. Perhaps it was because of drug abuse that he was detained, which Bimal was referring to in the memorial service.
Also, the most likely reason which ultimately led to his untimely death, is drug abuse, but these Social Justice Warriors who only show up (anonymously) when Bimpa does something, won't stop taking shots at him, even if it is due to the death of a student as a result of drug abuse - which goes on to show the extent of drug abuse problem in GNLU. The evidence they cite, "Shamnad Basheer spoke to the doctor who confirmed that he was not on drugs" - is only a PR exercise to hide the truth and try to salvage his memory, so that it is conveniently forgotten that he was a user of recreational drugs, which may have gone too far.
I do not know what exactly is being achieved by all this. Basheer himself in his facebook post alleged that Jumika faced some inherent prejudice from the students of GNLU. So, essentially the students have/had nothing to do with Jumika, but won't mind jumping the bandwagon to target Bimal, even if the chance comes by politicising someone's death.
Why no protests/emails from these 50 students for Basheer's insinuation that students from North-east are subject to prejudice in GNLU (by the students)?
4. "“This university didn't do anything for Jumika,” added the student, noting that he wasn't aware of Patel or the administration even having visited Yeptho in hospital. We could not independently confirm that claim."
The Dean Students Welfare of GNLU, Mr. Sugnesh Chudasama regularly visited aashka hospital where Mr. Yeptho was admitted, and was in constant touch with his parents. Kian you could have easily confirmed this 'independently', but you chose not to and published the article in a way that insinuates that there exists a sense of apathy of GNLU admin/bimpa towards its students, which is not the case.
5. I do not intend to tarnish Jumikas image/reputation/memory in any way, but the GNLU students should stop targeting bimal/GNLU unnecessarily out of their frustration, with the constant support of LI.
You're talking about student apathy in an institution which is so ridiculously unreasonable that students actually run the risk of ruining their careers if they try to hold the administration to account.
Also, suggesting that Jumika died of drug abuse when he was diagnosed with TUBERCULOSIS MENINGITIS makes you look like a real piece of shit who's so far up Bimpas ass we can only see your toes.
Students may have been responsible for pathetic rumours but at least they didn't choose to articulate them in a public gathering meant to honour Jumikas memory. You sound like such a sycophant of the admin that I don't think you're a student, but a teacher. And in case you are, I hope you rot in hell for you're participation in an administration that routinely ruins students lives and acts like the personal fiefdom of Bimal Patel. Also [...] needs to burn in hell.
Dr. Sugnesh, Dean Student Welfare visited the hospital many times and students from different batches even volunteered in huge numbers to donate blood to Jumika. These things are never reported.
Student apathy is one of the reasons why GNLU as a University has not progressed to where it rightly should have been.
I take strong objection to the careless statements made by Dr. Shamnad instead. GNLU shows no racism towards any of the students from the North East.
This article smacks of clear bias towards Dr. Patel and GNLU.
As for deceased's batchmates allegedly saying all sorts of things, it is indeed unfortunate if that is the case. That, however, does not mean that Bimal Patel has the right to say whatever he wants. Someone has died on his watch and any such statement is reprehensible. It tarnishes the memory of the deceased and takes away from any memory that any near or dear of the deceased might hold. This is blatantly offensive and I (and a majority of alumni) condemn statements like this in totality.
Your "word of advice to the GNLU student community" is to "stop cribbing and being whatsapp & email warriors throughout your 5 years here, and for once actually do something with regard to your issues, and look for ways to solve them." Do you even realize how these kids find themselves in this situation? It is because of a gradual consolidation of power by the administration that is increasing its control over students with each passing year. Under such circumstances, there is little that they can do. It is unfortunate, but that's how it is. The first 7 batches of the university always pointed out the issues they faced and were constantly at loggerheads with the administration. I am sorry but your stance here, is absolutely indefensible, so anything you have to say in this regard, honestly, does not even deserve to be taken with a pinch of salt. Nothing the GNLU administration says has any credence whatsoever and apologists like you should not be tolerated either.
Therefore, respectfully, shove it. I know this administration for almost a decade now, and as an alumni I'm anguished and repulsed. Shame.
There might be student insinuating the same belief as well... but do we expect the same maturity from a man who is in his 50s and heads an educational institution.
Are you trying to tell me that learned Mr. Patel is not aware of basic human courtsey of giving a eulogy. Mr. Patel needs to lead by example and teach the students how to honour a person at his death.
Even his apology is aggravating and unbecoming of the position and designation he has. Shameful.
Kudos to those students who raised their voices. Legal profession needs lawyers raising voices against things they deem rong. I think Mr. Patel also needs a lesson in political science to appreciate and understand the true workings of democratic process.
LIs headline: "GNLU students ‘ashamed’ of VC Bimal Patel’s ‘disrespectful', unsubstantiated drugs diatribe in Jumika Yeptho memorial service"
Clearly, the students are ashamed of themselves for letting the 'incident' pass by and not of bimal for his allegedly 'disrespectful' insinuations.
LI should refrain from frequent use of such defamatory clickbait headlines against GNLU, which go on to show some sort of agenda on part of Mr. Kian/LI.
Truth is that Prof Patel is eminent jurist and fine administrator. Because of Sir's effort and blessing of our beloved Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji GNLU is pride of Gujarat and premier law school of India. Only people against are certain leftist intellectuals from Congress.
Bimal's GNLU has the potential to produce exceptional students as well. Hope you cover this in an unbiased manner.
BTW, Sameer is one of your most ardent critics (i.e. of LI's biased reporting of GNLU) - check out one of his facebook posts - when you foolishly insinuated that GNLU students got 30 jobs (2nd highest in NLUs) merely because of close ties of GNLU to these firms.
All said and done, GNLU seems to be achieving its destiny, regardless of detractors like yourself. Exceptional all round performance in Moots, Debates, Placements and now scholarships.
Proud to be a GNLUite!
Here topic was Bimal Patel's insensitive speech after the death of a student. I hope you get it. Here the issue was much more serious. Blaming Legally India will not help or excuse Bimal's deeds.
Bimal you are lucky that the no statutory body member is actively involved in working of Administration.
Only two time it has been evaluated one by Madhav Menon and other by NAAC which on borderline have given A grade.
Read the NAAC report your claim. Of placement, research and teaching will be overrated.
Bimal Patel has lost the confidence of students and have no right to continu as Director.
Your days are numbered.......
I think legally India is doing unbiased Journalism presenting facts as they are..
That said, I wouldn't quite categorise sex harassment as an NLSIU 'scam', though it's a serious issue.
To be honest, a lot of digital ink has been spilled on the FB list and the Google doc, but I haven't seen any details of even the specific allegations, etc. I think there's definitely some value in the list, though without more information, I don't think it's responsible to report the fact that certain names are on the list without being able to corroborate it.
By all means, if someone who does have more information wants to get in touch, I'll be more than open to engage and consider taking the story forward.
For people who want to read more, this is a (loong) update that was recently posted on Kafila, which explores some of the issues:
kafila.online/2017/10/28/from-feminazi-to-savarna-rape-apologist-in-24-hours/
UNESCO has declared Kian Ganza as the best legal editor.
UNESCO has even declared BimPa as the best VC.
Maan Ki Boon
threads most popular
thread most upvoted
comment newest
first oldest
first