Mashal Khan’s murder and university environment
It has been really difficult for me to teach after the murder of Mashal. The climate of fear, anger at our helplessness and the trauma suffered in the process has truly devastated us in more ways than one. The ability of the mob to perpetrate a crime of such magnitude is horrific. The fury speaks volumes of the state of our present society, the life of a young man full of potential and dynamism was snuffed to death. It makes us question our identity that we as a nation have stooped to, killing a human being just because he dared to think differently from the rest of the herd mentality. The immense sadness and dejection that has enveloped me, forces me to question everything I am surrounded with: my daily interaction with the students and the ambience of the institution really traumatizes me that were they the same students who committed such a heinous crime in broad daylight? They can’t be the same people and is this what we are producing as educationists? Our basic function as facilitators and teachers is to ensure a positive climate, and to inculcate sound moral and ethical values in the students. The past events have made it difficult for us to validate our position. The need of the day requires a massive change in the policies so that history never repeats itself.