 |
| Students attend the seminar at Magadh Mahila College. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey Doctors check asthma patients at AIIMS-Patna. Telegraph picture |
Rapists try to prove their physical superiority over their victims and it gives them a sense of power, said students at a seminar in Magadh Mahila College.
Organised by the sociology department of the college on July 17, the focus of the seminar was the psyche of the rapists.
The programme was different because the organisers had not invited any guest speakers. Instead, they invited male students of Patna University to put forth their views on the subject.
Apart from the 25 students of the university, 20 students of the sociology department of Magadh Mahila College also spoke at the seminar.
Avinash Kumar, 24, a student of Patna University, said: “Rapists are sometimes encouraged, as girls dress in provocative attire.” But his views got the support of only a minority.
Countering him, Ekta, a postgraduate student of women and child welfare department of Magadh Mahila College, said: “You will find many examples of women, who have covered themselves from head to toe, also being raped. As they were wearing decent attire, what could have provoked the rapists?”
She also said: “We often hear of children — girls aged five or six years — getting raped. What kind of provocation could have children given the rapists?”
Ekta concluded: “Rape has nothing to do with a person’s attire. It is the mentality of the rapists. Some men want to prove their superiority over women and so they resort to raping.”
Faculty boost
Birla Institute of Technology, Patna, organised a two-day faculty development programme on “Research methodology and statistical package for social science” from July 20.
Ram Kumar, the head of the environmental science, Central University of Bihar, inaugurated the programme. Kumar and BIT-Patna director S.L. Gupta were the resource persons. They spoke to faculty members on how to enrich their knowledge and help in teaching students.
While Kumar spoke on basic research and research processes and how to select research problems, design, literature review and citation methods, Gupta’s discourse was on factor analysis.
Green studies
St Xavier’s College has introduced a new course on general and environmental studies for undergraduate students to make them aware of the changing environment.
Sister Mudita tried to enthuse her students on July 22 by playing Michael Jackson’s popular numbers “Earth Song” and “Heal the World” to them. As they listened to the songs and viewed a presentation, they were asked to appreciate the lyrics.
Through a PowerPoint presentation, they learnt why sheesham (rosewood) trees have almost disappeared from Patna and why the mango trees on the St Xavier’s College Campus were dying.
“Mono culture — or the focus on one species (humans) — is the cause of other species dying out,” said Alokita, a third-year BCom student.
Students also learned about the Chipko Movement — a Gandhian initiative that began in the Gharwal Himalayas in then Uttar Pradesh, where women used to hug trees to prevent them from being felled by contractors of the forest department.
Check-up camp
All India Institute of Medical Science, Patna, organised an asthma check-up camp on July 19. Doctors at the health hub checked 200 patients suffering from asthma. They also spread awareness about the disease.
The director of the hospital, G.K. Singh, chief proctor P.N. Singh and deputy director Anil Kishore Yadav were present at the workshop.
Speaking on the occasion, Singh said people suffering from asthma should avoid smoking as it can aggravate the condition.
Baby care centre
Students and teachers of Sri Arvind Mahila College would soon benefit from a baby care centre at their institution.
Bimla Sinha, the head of the home science department of the institution, said: “Many of our students are young women with children. Some of them often miss classes to take care of the children. Now, they would be able to come to college even with their babies.”
The centre will open on July 23.
