Last Fri-gay, the social outreach unit of Usha Pravin Gandhi College (UPGC) of Management invited Ankit Bhuptani, Deepak Kashyap and myself to speak to their students about LGBT issues.

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The institute is in the same building as Mithibai College, Vile Parle. By the time I waltzed through the Navi Mumbai traffic to reach the institute, the students were halfway through the experience of their life with Deepak Kashyap. The students were uninhibited and the questions were free flowing. It was a proud moment for me. UPGC stands where my alma mater — NMIMS — had its lectures.

Every time, I visit an institute, I realise that young minds have a lot of questions about sex and sexuality and it’s the institute’s responsibility to ensure that these questions are answered.

Forget kids, even adults can’t tell the difference between trans, gay or lesbian. Most don’t know whether chhakka is offensive or hijra. If we are to achieve equality, we need an education that extends beyond the class room.

The best moment of the day was when a student, while rendering the vote of thanks, came out to the whole class.

Summarising what he said would be difficult, but let me try: “I used to be a homophobe. I didn’t want to associate with gay people or anyone effeminate. I didn’t want to be discovered, hence I became a bully. Today, I am not. I am “gay”. The moment gave me goosebumps. And rightfully, the entire class gave him a standing ovation for his historic and dramatic coming out.

We then visited the Principal’s office. Malla hey shamelessly kabool karaicha that I have been to many colleges across the country to deliver talks on sexuality and gender, and I can vouch, with a few exceptions, that meeting the principal is the most awkward, filled with boring formalities and plastic smiles.

But the principal of UPGC was different. A psychologist herself, she emphasised on the need for holistic education and inclusion of LGBTQI persons in everything. She also congratulated her student for his coming out and offered us candies in celebration.

An educational institution is no less than a home-away-from-home. It is important that students are safe and free from discrimination.

Just for her, and the way she has brought up her kids with bonds of love and equality, she deserves a standing ovation.

Institutes are graded by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). I am sending a copy of this column to the Director Professor DP Singh recommending an A++++ rating for this institute.  Such honest efforts in building an equal world should not go unrewarded. I recommend that each one of us send bouquets and brickbats to NAAC (http://www.naac.gov.in/contactus.asp) ensuring that institutes perform better.

Join me in celebrating Principal Dr Anju Kapoor.

(Activist Harish Iyer shares his entertaining adventures through Mumbai’s landscape)

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