RIMS in the news for the wrong reasons : Rein in haughtiness
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: May 10, 2025 -

It is unsavoury and something is definitely not right.

India is not unaccustomed to students going on the warpath against the policies and programmes of the authority concerned but that the agitation should turn to something as revulsive as allegations of 'sexual harassment' is deeply disturbing.

This is one point in the voice of dissent raised by students of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) against the Director of the institute and nothing can be more disturbing than this.

What exactly happened?

From the statement issued by the media cell of RIMS on May 7, disciplinary action including suspension from class was initiated against some students for indiscipline and defiance in going ahead with a picnic much against the instruction of the institute not to do so.

The students have alleged that the Director used unparliamentary language while castigating the students and clubbed the language and tone allegedly used by the Director as harassment including 'sexual harassment'.

These terms were displayed in bold in the placards used by the students while staging their protest and demanding the ouster of the Director from his post.

The charge is serious, very serious and one hopes the authority concerned probes the matter diligently and come to a logical conclusion.

At the same time it should also not be forgotten that the charges levelled by the students are allegations, nothing more or less than that and allegations should remain that and nothing more.

It is best left to an inquiry committee to verify the charges of the young students, and it is for this very reason why caution should be exercised before the people start jumping to conclusion.

The social media was rife with the dissent raised by the students as well as the allegations raised against the Director and Manipur is not unaccustomed to seeing people jump to conclusions and this was what was seen on the social media just a day or two back.

It is best left to a competent authority to verify whether the charges are true or not but it is worth noting that such serious charges have been raised and hence the question of whether the voice of dissent or revolt have something more to do than just the disciplinary action taken up by the RIMS authority against some students or not.

Either way it is not good for the image of the institute under any circumstances.

A place to care for the sick and the dying and a place for young bright students to learn, this is what RIMS is all about and it is important that everyone reciprocate and demonstrate that they care for the institute which is there to, serve the needs of the people.

But when the understanding of a place to care for the sick and the dying and impart knowledge to medical students is turned into a place of conflicting stands and demands, then it could suggest that something, somewhere is horribly wrong.

The Sangai Express is not here to teach anyone, much less raise questions on how doctors and people holding positions of responsibility should conduct themselves, but is the RIMS authority aware of how sensitive young medical students can be ?

Apart from the demanding academic curriculum, medical students may be under tremendous mental strain, such as trying to be amongst the best, keeping an eye open on what and how to pursue their further studies after their graduation, for after all this is the age of Specialists and Super Specialists.

Once in a while it should be perfectly okay for the young medicos to let their hair down but then again one should also not forget that discipline is the key in any academic pursuit, more so when one is training or studying to be a doctor.

It should also not be forgotten that students are young boys and young girls and there are ways to discipline them.

Taunting, 'insulting', or 'cracking the whip' to bring them in line is certainly not what the doctor would prescribe for the job of a medical school should be on how to make better doctors and better human beings out of the young medical students.

That this can be imparted only by medical Professors who place a premium on humanity need not be overstressed here and humanity should be understood as a trait which has no room for haughtiness.

RIMS should not be in the news for the wrong reasons.