Students of Mumbai’s state-run JJ Hospital’s Grant Medical College (GMC) came out in protest on March 24 against sexist diktats of the administration by wearing ankle-length clothes and covering their faces. Not only did the authorities demand that girls and boys sit separately during the annual college fest but also issued a dress code for girls, asking them not to wear short dresses, and instructed them to return to the hostel before 9:30 p.m.
It has been asserted that the dress code has been introduced after an incident occurred on campus where some boys tore off their clothes during Holi celebrations on March 21. However, it appears unclear who is responsible for these particular measures. While The Hindu reported the Dean as saying that the wardens set the rules after the Holi incident, a college administrator was heard on Times Now coverage as saying that the measures were introduced on the Dean’s orders, who threatened to cancel the ongoing annual festival if the students refused to comply.
The students’ association admitted that some boys tore off their clothes during the Holi revelry. “But there was no incident where anyone misbehaved. Some students tore off their own clothes in the excitement of the festivities, but this cannot be the reason for the diktats,” said one student.
Students have also alleged that the authorities “were stationed at the girls’ hostel to check what each one was wearing. Many girls were asked to change as they did not approve of their clothes.” They have also asserted that in the past two months, college staff has dispersed groups of girls and boys mingling together. When the girls questioned the restrictions, they were told boys don’t get pregnant, The Hindu reported.
Students of the college have called this an instance of moral policing. Mumbai Mirror reported a protesting student as saying, “We condemn this decision of the college administration as it unnecessarily encroaches on our right to dress the way we want. Why should everyone be punished for the handiwork of some unruly students?”
However, the Dean, Dr Ajay Chandanwale, seems to disagree. He has been reported as saying that he didn’t believe in gender discrimination but was merely calling for ‘decency in conduct’ of the students. He has agreed to hear the students out if they have any objections.
He was also reported as saying, “The expectation from female students is that they dress appropriately. This alone was my message to the students.” But what is this appropriateness expected of girl students on the pretext of misbehaviour of boys? Why is wearing short skirts a vulgarity?
Currently, women of Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur are also fighting against regressive hostel norms in the same spirit but in a different way. They took to the court of law earlier last year and the Kerala HC announced its verdict in their favour. They have now taken to symbolic social protest to continue their battle. So the struggle continues, and the movement spreads – with significant victories against regressive mindsets for a gender-levelled world.