SPECIAL REPORT Is rape becoming an epidemic in ?

A report on the gang rapes at the be a close confidante of the chief min- tra tuition or academic assistance. As PTC College, Patan reveals a growing in- ister, Narendra Modi, hails from this she continued to shine academically, her cidence of sexual abuse in Gujarat’s edu- electoral constituency. It was during family, with five children to raise, opted cational institutions and elsewhere Patel’s tenure as education minister, to pull their son out of school so that across the state, indicative of a far over the last 10 years, that Patan wit- she could continue her education. The deeper malaise. This however has evoked nessed growing incidence of sexual ex- victim wanted to become a doctor but no genuine concern, condemnation or ploitation of its female students. because of their poor finances the fam- corrective action from the ruling BJP or Situated on the outskirts of Patan ily decided that she should enrol in the their local hero Narendra Modi. On the city, the PTC College, Patan is run by Primary Teachers’ Certificate course so contrary, the Gujarat government ap- the government’s District Institute of she could train to be a teacher and ul- pears suspiciously keen to shield the Educational Technology (DIET). timately be self-employed. She was ad- culprits and is using every possible mitted to the PTC College, Patan on July means to stifle protests for justice. 24, 2007. When the girl sought admission to the PTC College, Patan her father ap- BY DWARIKA NATH RATH pealed to a lecturer at the college, Prof

Baloch, for financial assistance. Baloch HIS is not the gruesome saga assured him of help and asked another of gang rape as perpetrated on lecturer to look after the girl. Little did Bilkees Bano and many other father and daughter know that their vul- hapless Muslim women during nerability would soon lead them to this the Gujarat genocide in 2002. gruesome turn of events. TIt is the story of a girl from a poor Dalit The victim hoped to become a teacher family, a student at the PTC (Primary after she finished her college course. Teachers’ Certificate) College in Patan Innocent as she was, brought up to re- who became a victim of gang rape by spect her teachers, she had no inkling six lecturers at the college she attended. of what lay ahead, the crimes she would The lecturers at the PTC College, Patan, be subjected to by the very teachers who were empowered to conduct inter- whom she considered her gurus. Fresh- nal assessment, took advantage of the faced and naive, she, like so many other victim’s poverty and raped her 14 times girls in Gujarat, was unaware that the over four-and-a-half months on the col- college she had joined was in fact a lege campus and during an excursion world of sexual predators. that students were taken on as part of their internship. The culprits Like other incidents of this nature, On September 11, 2007, not long this incident too would have been after she was admitted into college, dumped and forgotten within the four Prof Ashwin Kumar Parmar summoned walls of the PTC College in Patan had the victim to the Educational Technol- the young victim not fainted in the ogy (ET) room after recess. Expecting college prayer hall on January 31 and nothing untoward, she went to meet but for the support she received from him in the ET room as asked. Ashwin Bharati Patel, a female lecturer, backed Parmar and two other lecturers, Manish by 97 courageous female students and Parmar and Mahendra Prajapati, were their guardians. This incident shook the already there. As she entered the room, entire state as students and others in The victim Ashwin Parmar closed the door behind Gujarat came out spontaneously to ex- The victim belongs to an impover- her. He then ripped off her clothes and press their anguish. The people of Patan ished Dalit family from vil- raped her. The traumatised victim was were enraged and demanded that the lage, Visnagar taluka in dis- then raped by the two other profes- offending lecturers be given exemplary trict. Her father is a daily labourer. A sors present in the room. The three punishment. very bright student, she secured 89 per men, who had also taken nude photo- The current minister for revenue and cent in the Class X examinations and 70 graphs of the victim on a mobile phone former education minister in the state per cent in the Class XII examinations camera, threatened her with dire con- cabinet, Anandi Patel, who is said to under her own steam, without any ex- sequences if she breathed a word to

COMMUNALISM COMBAT 14 APRIL 2008 SPECIAL REPORT anyone. They now had the girl in their College in Palanpur in 2001 after she after the lecturer’s role in the Patan clutches. complained to the director, Gujarat gang rapes became public.) Fifteen days after the first incident, Council of Educational Research and Prof Manish Parmar, a relative of cur- Prof Manish Parmar called her to the Training (GCERT), about the sexual ex- rent education minister Ramanlal Vora, college laboratory where professors Kiran ploitation of students on February 27 moved around the college campus armed Patel and Suresh Patel were also present. that year. She was later reappointed to with a knife. The girls were terrified of In the laboratory, Manish Parmar and the PTC College, Patan. Bharati Patel was him. Unlike other lecturers, who grade Suresh Patel raped her and a sexually also threatened by male lecturers at the students on 50-100 marks, Manish impotent Kiran Patel sexually abused the college. Parmar, a drawing teacher at the col- victim. Jashoda Joshi: The hostel warden lege, was empowered to grade students From December 31, 2007 to January Jashoda Joshi advised the girls to on 250 internal assessment marks. 11, 2008 students of the college were ‘get used to it’ and rebuked them Manish Parmar is said to have shortlisted taken on an excursion to Khumbhwa when they complained about the 10 girls on the campus to ‘choose the village as part of their internship. Here, sexual harassment they were sub- best’ for himself. To draw up a list of professors Suresh Patel, Kiran Patel and jected to. Joshi was more concerned the top ten he used a mobile phone Manish Parmar raped the victim at 8 p.m. about the girls’ menstrual cycles and camera, video cameras, from which he on New Year’s Day. Before leaving took them to a male doctor, Lalit uploaded the images onto a computer Khumbhwa on January 11, the men Modi, for check-ups at night. In the so that he could identify the best girls. raped her again at 3.30 a.m. in the dead wake of the Patan scandal it was re- This process began as soon as students of night after a cultural programme had vealed that the lecturers visited the were admitted into the college. His sexu- concluded. girls’ hostel on the pretext of giving ally exploitative behaviour intensified Later that month, following the gang them extra tuition and thus entered during the college’s educational tours rapes by the five other lecturers, the their rooms. When students’ guard- off campus. A complaint had been filed victim was then raped by Prof Atul Patel, ians attempted to draw the warden’s against Manish Parmar with the head of the kingpin, the most influential man of the lot. On January 25, 2008 Atul The lecturers drew lots to decide which one of them Patel raped the victim in the college would be the first to rape the victim. They carried computer room. He threatened to kill condoms with them. After each incident of gang rape her if she dared to expose the truth. During this period of time, when she they forced the victim to take a strong dose of an anti- was being repeatedly subjected to gang pregnancy pill. They photographed the rapes on their rape, the traumatised victim often lost mobile phone cameras and on video cameras as well. consciousness. To discredit any overt indications of the victim’s distress These actions, their premeditation and attention to that could raise suspicion, on Septem- detail, indicate the behaviour of experienced rapists ber 13, 2007 the lecturers took her with hardened criminal minds to a witch doctor who was asked to exorcise the ‘evil spirit’ that had pos- attention to this, she responded by the GCERT more than seven years ago, sessed her. They took other girls along saying that the girls concerned were on October 17, 2000, but no action was with them on the visit in order to of immoral character. taken against him. He was known to brag engender the belief that the victim Prof Atul Patel, the kingpin of the that no one could do anything to him was possessed by evil spirits. Patan sex racket, is known to be close as he enjoyed influential support. to Anandi Patel and even led her elec- Students of the college recounted Staff at the PTC College, Patan tion campaign in 2002. He is said to that the lecturers often told them to Prof Mahendra Prajapati: MSc, BEd have been the one responsible for Prof ‘give us a smile and get marks’. They Prof Atul Patel: MSc, BEd, MPhil, PhD Bharati Patel’s transfer following her even asked the girls to apply honey Prof Suresh Patel: MA, BEd (Social complaints about the sexual harass- on their lips. Sciences) ment of students in 2001. Complaints Principal KT Purania, who was prin- Prof Kiran Patel: MSc, MEd, PhD were made against Atul Patel as well cipal of the PTC College, Patan when the (Mathematics) but he managed to suppress all of them. scandal broke, had only recently taken Prof Ashwin Parmar: MA, BEd, LLB In the recent case not only was he over the post from JN Chaudhary who (Psychology) party to the gang rapes but he also was known to be hand in glove with Prof Manish Parmar: Degree in Art, threatened to kill the victim if she re- the accused lecturers. But Purania him- Drawing teacher vealed the truth. Atul Patel was a re- self is not free of the taint of sexual Prof Bharati Patel: She was appointed cipient of the All Ramanujan misconduct; there were complaints made lecturer at the PTC College, Patan in Maths Club’s Best Maths Teacher award. against him during his tenure as prin- 1997 but was transferred to the PTC (The award was reportedly withdrawn cipal at Palanpur. There is a long-stand-

COMMUNALISM COMBAT 15 APRIL 2008 SPECIAL REPORT ing nexus between male lecturers and the morning of February 4, students of object of curiosity rather than serious the management, and the authorities the PTC College, an angry crowd as- medical attention. who turn a blind eye towards cases of saulted the accused lecturers with sticks Shortly after the gang rapes at the sexual abuse. and bricks and damaged their motorcy- PTC College, Patan came to light, the The lecturers drew lots to decide which cles. Had the police not intervened, the National Commission for Women (NCW) one of them would be the first to rape crowd may well have lynched the ac- visited Patan to inquire into the inci- the victim. They carried condoms with cused – the students and their guard- dent. The NCW concluded that this was them. After each incident of gang rape ians, Patan’s citizens were in no mood no isolated incident; this victim was not they forced the victim to take a strong for mercy. the only girl who had been subjected dose of an anti-pregnancy pill and took As tempers boiled over, 25,000 peo- to rape. The commission also made the care to shave off the victim’s pubic hair ple in Patan joined a protest rally on following recommendations: so as not to leave behind any traces of February 5, demanding action against There should be no male teacher semen. They photographed the rapes on the accused. A bandh was called and or male staff member on the campus, their mobile phone cameras and on video the town of Patan remained closed for not even peons or sweepers. cameras as well. These actions, their two days. People could not believe The victim’s statement should be premeditation and attention to detail, that such gruesome incidents of gang recorded before a judicial magistrate indicate the behaviour of experienced rape were possible, not in Patan, the under Section 164 of the Code of Crimi- rapists with hardened criminal minds. ancient capital of Gujarat, where peo- nal Procedure (CrPC) to avoid distortion ple still take great pride in their his- under any political or social pressure. Public outrage On January 30, 2008 the victim fi- The students’ guardians believe that sexual exploitation nally told a friend about the gang rapes. has been rampant at the PTC College, Patan since The next day, on January 31, the vic- tim fainted in the prayer hall, leading Anandi Patel’s tenure as education minister. Patel has to much speculation and conjecture. however dismissed the charges as politically motivated She was taken first to a psychiatrist and allegations. She said, moreover, that when she was then to a gynaecologist by Prof Bharati Patel and other students where it was education minister ‘no complaint of sexual harassment confirmed that she had been subjected had ever reached her’. Needless to say, her statements to rape. The girl was traumatised, have little credibility today fainted time and again and was terri- fied at the very sight of a lecturer. As tory, their society and their culture. The state government should pro- news of the gang rapes spread, it roused So great was the public outrage, they vide security to the victim and support the other hostel inmates, students who demanded that the six lecturers be her until she is properly rehabilitated. had also been molested and abused by handed over to them. If the authori- The victim should receive finan- the six lecturers at various times under ties were not inclined to punish the cial support from the government un- threat of being denied internal assess- guilty, the people of Patan would do til the trial concludes; the compensa- ment marks. Ninety-seven students it for them. tion amount of Rs one lakh announced signed a memorandum of complaint to Following the public outcry, the vic- by the state government was inad- the principal on January 31, 2008. tim’s statement was recorded in the equate. On February 1, the principal of the presence of the district superintendent The DIET-run PTC girls’ hostel in PTC College, Patan went to of police, Raghvendra Vats, resident Patan should not be vacated as this to place this complaint before the au- deputy collector MD Modia, senior lec- would adversely affect the students’ thorities. He was assured that an inves- turer Bharati Patel, one doctor and a education. tigation would be carried out to look few other students. The victim was sent Adequate police security should into the complaint on February 5. The for a medical examination. She was said be provided on the college campus to students however were doubtful that any to be in a traumatised condition and ensure that classes could be conducted administrative measures would be taken screamed whenever she was touched. She without any hindrance. against the lecturers by the authorities was taken to the Civil Hospital, The state government should sub- in Gandhinagar, as similar complaints in where she had to wait for mit to the NCW copies of the accounts, the past had been either suppressed or three hours in the casualty department statements by 98 girls that were sub- withdrawn. and a further three hours until doctors mitted to the college and to education Acting on the advice of Prof Bharati attended to her. Although the Patan department officials. Patel, the students immediately in- gang rape incident received wide me- The state government should sub- formed their guardians about the dia coverage and supposed government mit to the NCW a report on the case incident. Shocked and enraged, parents attention, the victim was shabbily within seven days (mid-February) and and guardians rushed to the college. On treated. At the hospital she was the expedite the deliverance of justice.

COMMUNALISM COMBAT 16 APRIL 2008 SPECIAL REPORT

The six lecturers, who were also sus- Taking cognisance of reports about total marks a student can secure in a pended from their duties, were arrested the Patan gang rape case, the National year at the PTC College, Patan, for ex- on February 4 under Sections 376 and Human Rights Commission issued a no- ample, which is why they are so vital to 506 of the Indian Penal Code (punish- tice to the Gujarat government and students and become a tool whereby ment for rape and punishment for crimi- sought a reply within four weeks (in mid- lecturers can coerce students to do their nal intimidation respectively) and later March). Referring to this move, the com- bidding or else risk examination fail- remanded to police custody by a local mission’s chairperson S. Rajendra Babu ure. Following reports of a case of mo- court. Results of semen tests, con- said on February 11 that if the allega- lestation of a student at a private PTC ducted to match samples from the ac- tions were found to be true it amounted College in in 2005, it was rec- cused with samples found at various to serious human rights violation. ommended that the internal assessment locations where the crimes took place, system at PTC colleges be scrapped. It have since proved conclusive. On Feb- A warped system was suggested that the percentage of ruary 7, the victim’s statement was re- The system of internal assessment internal assessment marks be reduced corded by a judicial magistrate under followed in many of Gujarat’s colleges, from 40 per cent to 15 per cent or 10 Section 164 of the CrPC. per cent but the proposal Desperate for redress, on Feb- was shelved. ruary 7, students of the PTC Col- PTC colleges in Gujarat lege, Patan and their guardians have mushroomed in recent went to the state capital, years. After the National Gandhinagar, but were not allowed Council for Teachers’ Educa- to meet either the chief minister tion (NCTE) introduced the Narendra Modi or the education policy of self-finance for minister Ramanlal Vora. The edu- colleges offering the Pri- cation minister’s personal assist- mary Teachers’ Certificate ant attempted to trivialise the is- course, self-financed insti- sue, brushing off the Patan inci- tutes have also proliferated dent as nothing out of the ordi- across the state. Today nary, ‘it goes on’. there are 431 PTC colleges The sexual harassment of girls in the state, most of which at the PTC College, Patan is by no are self-financed. Running means a new phenomenon. The a PTC college is big busi- students’ guardians believe that ness in Gujarat. There are sexual exploitation has been ram- also as many as 3,000 man- pant at the PTC College, Patan agement seats in colleges since Anandi Patel’s tenure as where lecturers are empow- education minister. Patel has ered to grade students on however dismissed the charges as internal assessment marks politically motivated allegations that constitute as much as by people who cannot tolerate 40 per cent of the total. It the BJP’s victory in Gujarat. She is this very empowerment said, moreover, that when she through internal assess- was education minister ‘no com- ment that has given lectur- plaint of sexual harassment had ers the freedom to sexually ever reached her’. Needless to say, abuse their students. her statements have little cred- Seeking economic inde- ibility today. During Anandi pendence, more and more Patel’s tenure as education min- girls in Gujarat today enrol ister, 28 students of the PTC Col- in various professional lege, Patan had, in fact, filed courses in the hope that complaints of molestation this will provide better op- against lecturers who used in- portunities for employment. ternal assessment marks as a threat. the importance of internal assessment Currently, there are 16,000 students en- In 2004, a student, Daksha Parmar, marks that are doled out at the whim of rolled in Gujarat’s 134 PTC colleges for had filed a complaint against Manish lecturers, has come in for much criti- girls. Most of these colleges have no fe- Parmar, an accused in the current case, cism over the years. male lecturers or even female hostel war- but the case was closed by the then Internal assessment marks constitute dens. Yet it is compulsory for girls to principal, JN Chaudhary. as much as 40 to 44 per cent of the stay in hostels. As compared to govern-

COMMUNALISM COMBAT 17 APRIL 2008 SPECIAL REPORT ment colleges, the tuition and other ex- such incidents are reported, the re- Flouting Supreme Court directives penses at self-financed colleges are very ports are ignored. Students are afraid It is a popular misconception that high. There is no economic help offered to come out in the open and invite Gujarat is a safe place for women. This or any scholarships available to poor the wrath of their lecturers. For if they may be true on paper but only so long students keen to pursue a higher edu- do so they may well be denied the as the many incidents of sexual abuse cation. Any such policies only exist on marks they deserve which may lead, and rape that do take place remain un- paper. Much hyped programmes like Beti in turn, to their not getting their exposed. Every attempt is made Bachao (Save the Girl Child) and Kanya degrees and ultimately, a job. This is to suppress the truth in order that the Kelavani (Girl Child Education) that con- thought to be especially true of PTC image of the state appears spotless. stituted Narendra Modi’s Jaago Gujarat colleges. Incidents similar to the re- Completely unmoved by the gang rape (Arise Gujarat) campaign are a mere cent one took place as far back as 22 incident in Patan, the Government of mockery. years ago when 15 girls at a college Gujarat has done little following the It has always been a matter of great in Patan’s Meghraj taluka became vic- exposure of this shocking scandal ex- concern that male lecturers were al- tims of sexual abuse at the hands of cept to order a magisterial inquiry into lowed to teach at the PTC colleges for lecturers who often came to work the incident and promise the victim girls. When questioned, the authorities drunk. Fifteen police cases were Rs one lakh as compensation. The Su- said there weren’t enough female lec- lodged at the time. However, the preme Court’s 1997 judgement in the turers to fill the posts. If this was in- cases were ultimately suppressed and Vishaka case (Vishaka & Ors vs State of deed the case how did they manage to the girls were not given their degrees. Rajasthan & Ors) laid down specific send six female lecturers to the PTC Col- A more recent incident involves stu- guidelines for the prevention of sexual lege, Patan after the six male lecturers dents of a self-financed women’s col- abuse at the workplace, including the were arrested? And if the so-called short- lege in Palanpur being sexually har- establishment of complaints commit- age of female lecturers applied only to assed by a lecturer, Prof Kanu Patel, tees at all workplaces to address cases self-financed PTC colleges, why did gov- during college excursions to Goa and of sexual harassment and abuse as well ernment or DIET-run PTC colleges for girls employ male lecturers as well? It is a popular misconception that Gujarat is a safe Contrary to the claims made by place for women. This may be true on paper but Anandi Patel and her successor in the only so long as the many incidents of sexual abuse education ministry, Ramanlal Vora, there is no dearth of available female lectur- and rape that do take place remain unexposed. ers suitable for posts at the DIET-run Every attempt is made to suppress the truth in PTC colleges. As is true alas in other ar- order that the image of the state appears spotless eas of Indian governance or misgovernance, appointments to lectur- Maharashtra in 2006. He threatened as the disciplinary action to be taken ers’ posts are often made on political the girls, warning them not to report against offenders. Barring a few excep- grounds. the matter, and when a female lec- tions, most workplaces and institu- There are 16 DIET-run colleges for turer protested, she was harassed. tions in Gujarat do not have the ap- boys and six for girls. Of the 68 lec- If sexual harassment is so prevalent propriate complaint mechanism for turers appointed to the six colleges in the DIET-run colleges in the state, redressal of complaints. for girls, only 25 are female. However, there is no telling what the situation may Among other things, the Supreme of the 158 lecturers appointed to the be in self-financed colleges that are of- Court had recommended that all com- 16 colleges for boys, 45 are female lec- ten run by influential persons in power. plaints committees must be headed by turers. There are 70 female lecturers Reports of incidents of sexual harassment a woman; that women should consti- in all, most of whom are posted to from some of these institutions were so tute at least half of such a committee’s urban centres. They would be more shameful that three self-financed colleges, membership; that the committee must than enough to fill the posts in the in Kheda, Sabarkantha, Ahmedabad, include a third-party representative DIET-run colleges for girls. And yet, , had to be closed from an NGO or any other agency con- despite repeated complaints of sexual down. A thorough investigation by a versant with the issue of sexual harass- harassment by male lecturers at the people’s committee must be conducted ment (to prevent undue pressure from girls’ colleges, the authorities did not into the functioning of all self-financed within the organisation with respect to ensure that female lecturers were ap- colleges in Gujarat. Statements any complaint); and that the commit- pointed to these colleges. from girls studying there must be re- tee must submit an annual report on Many believe that there are many corded by an appropriate women’s sexual harassment to the appropriate more ‘Patans’ in the state, sordid tales body and effective measures must be government authority. of sexual exploitation that have been taken to prevent sexual harassment as The Supreme Court guidelines as to taking place for several years. Girls are per the Supreme Court’s recommenda- what constitutes sexual abuse include: asked to ‘get used to it’ and when tions in the Vishaka case. 1. Physical contact and advances. 2. A

COMMUNALISM COMBAT 18 APRIL 2008 SPECIAL REPORT demand or request for sexual favours. the victim and her supporters to con- social justice minister Fakir Vaghela 3. Sexually coloured remarks. 4. Show- tinue their fight and face the trial with avoided meeting people when they vis- ing pornography. 5. Any other unwel- hopes of justice. ited Patan after the scandal erupted. come physical, verbal or non-verbal con- On her visit to Patan, Anandi Patel also duct of a sexual nature. The role of the BJP: Whither the moral avoided meeting constituents, too police? afraid, perhaps, to face the wrath of the The question of a magisterial inquiry When the Patan scandal first broke, people. All fingers point at Anandi Patel Although the Gujarat government the BJP was conspicuous by its silence. as most believe that she was well aware ordered a magisterial inquiry into the The party found it hard, perhaps, to of what was going on. Patan incident, to be conducted, un- believe that less than two months after A scandal of this nature would of der existing procedure, by the Patan a resounding victory in the assembly course be an embarrassment to any gov- district collector, no terms of refer- elections, following their propaganda of ernment. BJP bigwigs tried to save face, ence were outlined for the offering a few stray com- magisterial probe. The gov- ments in response to ernment order did not specify events, but were largely oc- any terms and conditions un- cupied with damage con- der which the inquiry should trol exercises be conducted. No specific re- and discouraging any kind view of the internal assess- of public or institutional ment system, which has protests. In Patan they proved to be a formidable tool even monitored which frequently misused by the ac- teachers or professors cused lecturers in Patan and joined the protest march elsewhere, has been ordered. and many people were There is good reason there- therefore afraid to join in. fore to doubt the outcome of The ruling party has made the magisterial inquiry and a concerted effort to every reason to believe that underplay the matter it will meet the same fate as through various means and many inquiries before it and this has had increasing ef- do little to uncover the truth, fect with each passing day. bring justice to the victim or Most people are now scared prevent similar incidents in to be identified with the the future. protests, particularly in In the immediate aftermath Patan but elsewhere as well. of the Patan exposures there Meanwhile, the Congress were protests throughout the party, in keeping with its state by an outraged public past behaviour, appeared and many more protests were only to be seeking imme- planned. But the legal proce- diate political gain without dure will take its time and as any thought to building up the initial furore dies down the a powerful social movement victim may well be left to face across the state. This the trial alone as the gruesome overenthusiastic but short- incident passes from public sighted political approach memory. This has often hap- will only provide the BJP pened in the past when no adminis- a vibrant Gujarat, their slogans like Beti with more scope to divert attention from trative action is taken against the ac- Bachao and Kanya Kelavani, a scandal- the issue at hand. cused. The accused lecturers in the ous tale of sexual exploitation that had Patan case must be blacklisted by the been going on for years would be so na- Media trial education department and their de- kedly exposed and this, from the high- It is thanks to the media trial of the grees must be derecognised by the uni- profile assembly constituency of Patan. Patan case that the people of Gujarat versities concerned as is done in the The sangh parivar and its outfits were were encouraged to come out in sup- case of offending lawyers or doctors. absent from the scene. The chief minis- port of the victim. Almost every daily Such a move would reassure the victim ter, who poses as a saviour of the peo- newspaper in Gujarat provided excellent that she has the state’s backing, that ple, avoided visiting Patan altogether. reportage on the incident, evoking a she is not alone; it would encourage Education minister Ramanlal Vora and fitting response from civil society. The

COMMUNALISM COMBAT 19 APRIL 2008 SPECIAL REPORT media coverage of the Patan case also should evoke, a chalta hai or laissez-faire The rule making hostel boarding gave many other victims the courage approach to rape and sexual exploita- compulsory for students must be discon- to speak out as several cases of sexual tion that accepts it as normal. More tinued. abuse in educational institutions across often than not, it is the victim who is Female students must be given ad- the state were reported soon after the further victimised as questions are raised equate protection at all educational in- Patan incident became public. Although about her character in the attempt to stitutes. afraid of possible repercussions and less then justify her being raped or even The internal assessment system – a willing now to make their protests pub- killed. Myths about the rape are circu- tool of student exploitation at the hands lic, ordinary people in Gujarat, women lated and every means is used to justify of lecturers – must be discontinued. in Gujarat, are still outraged and want it. And thus society sinks to the nadir The culprit lecturers must be black- severe punishment to be meted out to of degeneracy. listed and their degrees withdrawn. the rapists. There is an attempt to maul the voice The state government should re- The strength and courage shown by of protest as useless. The process of in- lease a white paper on facts pertaining the victim, in her decision to speak out quiry, the legal process, takes long years to all educational institutes for girls and about her ordeal as well her brave deci- and thus judicial recourse is always a women in the state. sion to face heavy odds and continue distant prospect. The people’s voice is A watchdog committee comprising with her education notwithstanding the but momentary and loses tenacity with eminent citizens must be appointed to public exposure, cannot be overstated. the passage of time. And yet there is keep a close watch on all educational Her family and the citizens of Patan must no other avenue that can address the institutes in the state. also be saluted for their courageous people’s concerns and bring justice to Complaints committees to address actions in her support. the victims. complaints of sexual harassment and abuse The appalling gang rape of a student should be set up according to the guide- The epidemic of rape by six lecturers at an educational insti- lines laid down by the Supreme Court. One of the most distressing aspects tution must act as a fearsome wake-up The Gujarat State Commission for of the 2002 carnage in Gujarat was the call to all of us. That we must all come Women must be activated by making the public gang rape of several Muslim together on a common platform and fight necessary appointments. women where gang rape was used as an instrument of genocidal violence. This The sangh parivar and its cadres mounted a instrument of violence is fast becom- determined campaign to malign protesters as ing an epidemic that is ravaging Gujarat anti-Modi, anti-BJP and so on. What is worse, society where rapists are protected by anti-Modi, anti-BJP and so on. What is worse, those in power. The Patan incident is they showered vile abuse upon the victim but one example. Following the expo- herself, even blaming her for the gang rapes she sure of the Patan scandal, more and had been subjected to. Their vilification more instances of rape and sexual ex- ploitation are being uncovered across campaign crossed all limits of civility, of the state. In many of Gujarat’s primary compassion, their actions comparable to the schools, sexual abuse by male teachers workings of the most perverted minds is common. A number of incidents are suppressed for a variety of social fac- to restore morality, ethics and social val- The Gujarat State Human Rights tors, the risk of public humiliation or ues in our people. Else we shall be left Commission must be activated by mak- ostracism. Although many do come to with a society that though technologi- ing the necessary appointments. light, a vast number go unreported. cally advanced is amoral and spineless. Even the more senior students, those Postscript: The spectre of Modi-phobia studying for MPhil or PhD degrees, are Citizens’ demands When the sordid tale of gang rapes not spared. During the public protests in Gujarat and sexual exploitation in Patan first It would not be incorrect therefore several demands were made: came to light it shocked people all over to assume that incidents of sexual abuse Investigation of the Patan inci- Gujarat. Spontaneous protests spread like are increasing at an alarming rate. These dent should be handed over to the Cen- wildfire. As the people of Patan seethed can no longer be seen as isolated inci- tral Bureau of Investigation (CBI). with anger, a bandh unlike any before it dents. They are an indication of the Exemplary punishment must be was called in the town. But the BJP and extent to which the epidemic of rape meted out to the culprit lecturers. sangh parivar’s crisis control think tank has overrun Gujarat society. It is im- The state government must ensure soon sprang into action and was quick perative that we all speak out before immediate social rehabilitation of the to deflect the story, even attempting to the scourge consumes us. victim. bury it altogether. On the eve of the There is a deliberate attempt at work Only female lecturers should be ap- bandh there were strict instructions from to inure us to the shock that such crimes pointed at all girls’ colleges in the state. the BJP’s state president, Parshottam

COMMUNALISM COMBAT 20 APRIL 2008 SPECIAL REPORT

Rupala, asking people to refrain from Two months have now passed since Following the exposé, Jamna Taral participating in the protest. In spite the gang rapes at the PTC College, Patan replaced KT Purania as principal of the of these instructions, the people of first came to light. Yet the Government PTC College, Patan. Taral is the wife of Patan expressed a unique solidarity as of Gujarat has done nothing to restore the current district education officer in they came together to demand justice. the confidence of Gujarat’s citizenry. On Patan whose car, incidentally, had been Local BJP leaders were unable to con- the contrary, it is doing its best to un- seized by the Election Commission for trol their own people. dermine it in every possible way. its use during the BJP’s election cam- After the bandh however the BJP and A magisterial inquiry is being con- paign. its sister organisations set out to sub- ducted without any terms of reference Wasting no time whatsoever, the due the shame of Patan in various ways. and the court has served no charge moment she took charge as principal on When the story first became public it sheet against the accused to date. This February 23, 2008, Jamna Taral threat- was expected that people across the apart, investigations into the entire in- ened the students – she said that all 98 entire state would add their voice to cident, originally under the Patan po- girls were of questionable character and those in Patan, cutting across politi- lice, were handed over to the state Crime solely responsible for the incidents of cal, caste and commu- sexual exploita- nal identities. Mass tion. She threat- protests were envis- ened to fail them aged throughout the in their internal state. But the BJP’s assessment and damage control ma- ruin their futures if chinery was very alert they dared ask and with the help of their parents to the sangh parivar and intervene. Girls in its cadres mounted a the first year determined campaign course were warned to malign protesters as not to mix with anti-Modi, anti-BJP those in the sec- and so on. What is ond year. Taral even worse, they showered threatened to file vile abuse upon the police cases victim herself, even against them. The blaming her for the new principal bred gang rapes she had a greater sense of been subjected to. insecurity in the They also tried to di- already trauma- vide protesters and tised students. public opinion along Contrary to all caste lines. Their vili- norms of propriety, fication campaign she even summoned crossed all limits of ci- them as late as 10 vility, of compassion, p.m. to record their actions compa- their statements. rable to the workings The frightened of the most perverted minds. Follow- Branch (Criminal Investigation Depart- students took their case to the direc- ing each initiative, every demand for ment, CID). Having learnt its lessons tor of the GCERT, MN Bhad, on February justice in the Patan scandal, volun- from the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encoun- 23 and to the district collector of teers faced the usual prejudicial ter killing case, this time around every Patan, Vinod Rao, on February 24, ask- propaganda on codes of dress and precaution has been taken to ensure ing that the transfer of Principal KT conduct that every rape victim has that the government and the ruling Purania be stopped. But since the ad- also to face. This occurred consist- party are not caught in an embarrass- ministration remained inflexible, the ently throughout the state. ing position. In all, four police officers girls’ parents took their daughters home Thus the unique protest that was sup- have been designated to ensure that and demanded instead that their exami- posed to echo in every corner of Gujarat evidence against the culprits is not nation centre be changed. came instead to a grinding halt, re- leaked out. On February 26, the parents’ asso- placed by Modi-phobia yet again. In The victim is still to receive the com- ciation also submitted a memorandum Patan people are now afraid to speak pensation amount of Rs one lakh she to the director of the GCERT, urging a out openly lest they too are victimised. was promised by the state government. cancellation of KT Purania’s transfer. They

COMMUNALISM COMBAT 21 APRIL 2008 SPECIAL REPORT also sought clarifications about the complaints were all suppressed by the Shah, the MLA from Visnagar taluka, government resolution (GR) on internal GCERT until finally the students took Rishikesh Patel and other party leaders assessment. matters into their own hands on Febru- asked members of the parents’ associa- The post of principal is a critical ary 4 this year. tion to withdraw their protests. Ramanlal one in any college or educational in- Today the ruling party is merely bid- Vora and Amit Shah even threatened stitution. During Principal JN ing its time, waiting for the initial ex- Ghemar Chaudhary in private, telling him Chaudhary’s tenure, sexual abuse was citement to subside, and is using every to withdraw the protests or face the con- rampant at the PTC College, Patan. tactic, of suppression as well as persua- sequences. No minister exchanged a sin- There have been complaints about sion, to make the problem disappear. They gle word with the father of the victim. sexual exploitation at the college from have even attempted to cause rifts within Any hopes of meeting the chief min- the year 2000 onwards. The students the students and the parents’ association ister began to fade. Annoyed by the and their guardians wanted a thorough in a bid to break down the opposition. ministers’ indifference, the parents’ as- investigation into incidents that took sociation then went to the GCERT of- place during JN Chaudhary’s tenure, State of emergency fice and submitted their memorandum including the conduct of all lecturers The parents’ association were actively demanding the transfer of Jamna Taral at the college. The inquiry could have pressing home their demand for Jamna to the GCERT director, MN Bhad. The exposed the extent of irregularities, Taral’s transfer and were keen to meet moment they stepped out of the GCERT the favouritism and the modus oper- the chief minister in this regard when office, they were surrounded by a po- andi at work on the campus. In the they were approached by education lice cordon and then escorted out of wake of the Patan gang rape incident minister Ramanlal Vora who contacted Gandhinagar to an as yet unknown des- it has come to light that JN Chaudhary them on the evening of February 25 and tination. They were not allowed to meet not only connived in the sexual ex- asked them to come to Gandhinagar. the media. Two police jeeps, one in front ploitation but was also far from quali- fied to be principal. He is no more The Patan issue has been a great embarrassment than a matriculate who enjoyed the to the ruling BJP and all sorts of tactics were used support of high-ups influential in Gandhinagar. to try and divide the small parents’ association. On January 15, 2000 when the edu- Severe political pressure was exerted on cation secretary had visited the college, association members in a bid to silence their the students had submitted a memo- protests. The manner in which the parents’ randum demanding better educational facilities and also complaining about the association delegation was escorted out of behaviour of the then principal, JN Gandhinagar by the police is reminiscent of the Chaudhary, as well as the college clerk. days of the emergency The students had complained that JN Chaudhary was usually present in the Following the minister’s invitation, a and another bringing up the rear, es- college for only two days a week and team of 15 members of the parents’ asso- corted them to Gojharia, 30 km from that he visited the girls’ hostel at night ciation led by their president Ghemar Gandhinagar. During this journey, the in the rector’s absence. When Chaudhary reached Gandhinagar on Feb- parents were asked to switch off their Chaudhary heard of the complaints ruary 26 along with the father of the vic- mobile phones. In Gojharia they were made against him, he had threatened tim in the Patan case. The state assembly taken to the Arbuda hotel where they the girls with dire consequences. On was in session at the time and as they made met Shankar Chaudhary, the MLA from October 17, 2000 students again com- their way to the minister’s bungalow in Radhanpur and an influential BJP leader, plained against Chaudhary, this time Gandhinagar the parents were optimistic as well as KC Patel, a BJP state secretary to the director of the GCERT, but still that their mission would indeed be suc- from Patan. The police escort left them no action was taken against him; cessful. Vora directed them to the minis- there. Shankar Chaudhary also threat- rather, the students earned the princi- ter of state for health and family welfare, ened the members of the parents’ asso- pal’s wrath. As mentioned earlier in this Parbat Patel, who kept them waiting while ciation. They were told to send the girls report, on February 27, 2001 Prof he attended the state assembly session. back to college. He too made no at- Bharati Patel had sent a written com- Both ministers attempted to pressurise the tempts to commiserate with the victim’s plaint to the director, GCERT, about the association members, asking them to avoid father. Shankar Chaudhary also tried to sexual exploitation of girls at the col- causing the government any embarrass- play on caste sentiments, asking why lege through misuse of the internal ment during this inaugural assembly ses- the Patels and the Chaudharies had assessment system. sion, the first one to be held after the BJP’s joined hands with the Dalits (the vic- The girls at the PTC College, Patan victory in the December polls. tim belongs to the Dalit community). have been fighting sexual abuse from Ministers Ramanlal Vora and Parbat Fortunately, the parents’ association did the year 2000. For eight years their Patel, minister of state for home, Amit not succumb to these tactics.

COMMUNALISM COMBAT 22 APRIL 2008 SPECIAL REPORT

The Patan issue has been a great em- ment for Secular Democracy, at a meet- There can no longer be any doubt barrassment to the ruling party and all ing in Ahmedabad organised by the le- that under the circumstances described sorts of tactics were used to try and di- gal rights group, Citizens for Justice and above the inquiry into the Patan inci- vide the small parents’ association. Se- Peace. dents will not be conducted impartially vere political pressure was exerted on Even as the BJP and the sangh parivar while a fair trial of the case seems ex- Ghemar Chaudhary and fellow association seem determined to divert the issue, ceedingly unlikely. With the government members in a bid to silence their protests. concerned citizens, organisations, stu- and its machinery seemingly determined The manner in which the parents’ asso- dents, women, are coming out to de- to bury the shame of Patan through ciation delegation was escorted out threats, coercion, persuasion and di- of Gandhinagar by the police is remi- rect interference, how long can the niscent of the days of the emergency. victim’s parents and the other stu- After the incident at Gandhinagar, dents hold out against an autocratic the parents’ association president government at great risk to their Ghemar Chaudhary, a teacher, re- safety? An air of suppressed fear and ceived a show-cause notice for un- threat haunts the people. None but authorised absence from the man- a few dare to speak out openly. And agement of the school where he was though the majority are seething employed; they also threatened to with anger, they cannot seem to suspend him from the job. A fellow muster up the courage to face the protester, Kirit Patel, a lecturer from wrath of the government. The initial the Law College in Patan and a sen- outraged response was a spontane- ate member of the North Gujarat Uni- ous one. But the moment people versity, received similar threats from knew that they would be forced into the authorities. a confrontation with Anandi Patel, In what is being seen as yet an- the minister said to be closest to other vile attempt to pressurise the Narendra Modi in his cabinet, most rape victim and her supporters, there protesters ran scared. is a rumour now doing the rounds The ruling party and the sangh that obscene MMS (Multimedia parivar are doing their best to Messaging Service) clips of the gang underplay the Patan sex scandal in rapes by the six lecturers are cur- a devious and perverted manner. On rently being circulated on mobile the one hand fear, insecurity, an- phones across Gujarat. guish and helplessness have already Meanwhile, following a second gripped civil society in Gujarat since visit to Patan in the first week of the carnage of 2002. Moreover, the March, the National Commission for ‘no remorse factor’ has been skil- Women expressed dissatisfaction with fully percolated among the peo- the inquiry being conducted by the ple. The desensitisation of Gujarat government and demanded Gujarat society is indeed greatly that the inquiry be handed over to alarming. Under these circum- the CBI. The commission also observed stances it is high time concerned that the education department had citizens in Gujarat came forward. taken no concrete action against the If the sex scandal at the PTC Col- accused lecturers and demanded that lege, Patan is allowed to be bur- the six men be dismissed from serv- ied, victims will stop speaking ice and that their degrees be revoked. for years to come. Fighting for While on a visit to Ahmedabad justice in the Patan case will on March 9, Asma Jahangir, the spe- save society from complete moral and cial rapporteur on freedom of religion mand justice. On February 14, various cultural degradation. or belief, United Nations Human Rights voluntary organisations and citizens of Council, is said to have expressed con- Ahmedabad came together under the (Dwarika Nath Rath, an activist from cern about the sexual exploitation at banner of the Citizens’ Forum against Gujarat, belongs to the Movement for the PTC College, Patan during her meet- Patan Gang Rape Incident to stage a Secular Democracy, MSD, the broadest ing with the state chief secretary, huge rally and hold a protest meeting possible platform of concerned citizens Manjula Subramaniam. Jahangir was at Sardar Baug. In Ahmedabad, Baroda, and voluntary organisations comprising briefed on recent events by representa- and elsewhere in Gujarat, March 8 secular and democratic-minded people tives of the democratic collective, Move- was observed as Patan Day. in the state.)

COMMUNALISM COMBAT 23 APRIL 2008