India: Bihar college tells girl students not to keep their hair open

Patna: A premier women’s college in Bihar has banned girl students attending classes with the hair open and strictly told them to come to classrooms only with ponytails.

It also banned taking selfies on the college premises, triggering protest from the students who described restrictons as encroachments upon their rights and likened them to “Talibani diktat”.

The students registered their protests after Sundarwati Women’s College in Bhagalpur district enforced a new dress code and hair style for girls last week. As per the new dress code, the girls have to attend the classes in Salwar-Kurta with dupatta (scarves). But what has irked them the most is the college’s order asking them to attend classes only with ponytails, and no free hairs.

“You are required to attend the classes only with ponytails. At least one ponytail is a must,” says a new notification issued on August 19. The new dress code will be effective for intermediate (Plus 2) girl students for session 2021-2023. There are around 1,500 students admitted to all the three streams — science, arts and commerce — in Grade 12.

“The entry of students who flout the dress code will be banned on the college premises,” said the notification issued with the signature of college Principal Dr Raman Sinha. The principal said the decision about the new dress code was taken by a committee and it is final.

He said the students would have to abide by the new rules at all costs. “The new rules are not going to be withdrawn. They part of the college administration to enforce discipline on the campus,” the principal added.

The move, however, has triggered strong protests from the girl students who said there shouldn’t be any curbs imposed on their freedom and that they are free to lead their own lifestyle like the boys. “This decision seems to be parallel to the law of the Taliban and we all should oppose this,” said a girl student wishing not to be identified fearing action from the college administration.

Student leaders, however, have openly taken to the streets and are opposing the new order of the college administration. A student leader Dilip Kumar Yadav said they welcome the decision of the college regarding the new dress code but the ban on open hair of girls shows the poor mentality of the college administration. He threatened to intensify students’ protests if the college didn’t withdraw the “absurd” order and wondered how such an order was issued despite the fact that the vice-chancellor of the university concerned happened to be a woman.

A section of girl students though has supported the college order saying it was in the interest of the girls. Amrita Singh, a student leader from TNB Law College, said even ‘scientifically’ it is not comfortable to study keeping the hair open. “The mind becomes restless when hair is open,” she observed and expressed her gratitude to the principal and the college administration for their decisions.