DU admission scam: Why we have nobody to blame but ourselves

Indians seem to have developed a knack for being able to pull a scam practically anywhere. Adulteration of milk and liquor, and mining scams! We seem to have done it all. So the news of the recent admission scam at Delhi University wasn't a shocker.

As reported by the Hindustan Times on July 31, "Four people were arrested on Thursday for helping 25 students secure admissions in 10 DU colleges". The plan basically involved zeroing in on students who were unable to make it to the university by dangling the prospect of admissions, all for the price of Rs three-seven lakhs. (Why do any of us even bother with an honest day's work?)

This isn't the first time it has happened. Similar cases had been reported in some colleges of DU during the last two years as well. So how does one prevent this? Stringent ways to verify the admission documents of a candidate and delivery of harsh consequences in case of a similar happening would serve as possible remedy options.

However, there is another way of looking at this. Many such cases occur in which students are driven up against the wall to get a college with a brand name. And that brings us to the already discussed subject: stop making education a life and death issue. The college one studies in shouldn't be treated the same as a Louis Vuitton bag the neighbourhood aunty flaunts to reinforce her financial standing. Colleges are supposed to educate and prepare one for his/her professional life. They aren't meant to be status symbols to boast of at social gatherings.

Moreover, as discussed earlier, admission to a supposedly "great" college does not warrant success in life. But sadly, this seems to be an issue which will simply be used as fodder for school debates rather than being treated as a problem that should be corrected by the society.

On a different note, college life is proving to be a very enriching experience. This is with reference to the cultural diversity we're all a part of. It is so refreshing to see people from almost all parts of India gathering in my class. Delhi University seems to be a cultural microcosm of the country. A student enlarges the social frontiers within the canvas of multiplicity, encourages acceptance of differences, whether it be of opinions or religious beliefs. This is something that is urgently needed in a country that boasts of its diversity, yet targets it at every given chance.