Get this: Cell phones might soon be banned in Mumbai campuses

In the latest example of irrational steps taken by an educational institute to tackle a much larger problem, a proposal by the higher and technical education department has moved for banning cell phones on campus to stop cyber crimes. According to the report, which appeared in today’s Indian Express, Mumbai University has issued a circular to affiliated colleges on 25 June seeking their opinion on the installation of mobile jammers and decoders in campuses, which would block cellular phone signals on campus. The absurdity of this move is apparent to everyone. Telecom experts have termed the proposal “ridiculous”, since students could always circulate ‘banned material’ outside campus, and besides this, making videos do not require telecom services. The move was made on the recommendation of Ashok Lad, an NCP youth leader from Aurangabad, who has been pursuing the issue for over a year now. [caption id=“attachment_931025” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A file photo of a mobile phone. Reuters[/caption] Even though the proposal will probably not go through (it has already been vetoed once earlier this year), it’s another example of the mindless censorship which attempts to tag words like “vulgar” to inanimate technology that could possibly facilitate inappropriate behaviour. Lad points out that students use cell phones to circulate vulgar messages and videos, but banning cell phones in only college campuses would be a cosmetic and frustrating move at best. It’s a move without rationale or purpose, but what’s worrying is that it was even considered for a proposal by MumbaiUniversity. Banning cell phone reception in college campuses to attempt to control “vulgar behaviour” is at best a patently unintelligent idea, and at worst high-handed and moralistic policing disguised as concern for the souls of our college-going youth. But since the approval of the proposal depends on the okay of academic heads and faculty, it will probably not go through. Vice-chancellor Vijay Pandharipande of Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University has deemed the move “unfair”.  “Though most students use mobiles as a fad, parents provide phones for use in emergencies. Jammers will also block phones of staff members causing inconvenience,” Kumudhavalli Sarangpani, registrar, SNDT, Mumbai, told the Indian Express. (Read the full report here)