Is Vikas Mathkari a worthy role model for students?

A professor at BMCC, BJP corporator Vikas Mathkari on Monday was in the forefront in vandalising public property to protest against the removal of Dadoji Konddev's statue from Lal Mahal. Is a teacher, who is responsible for guiding students and shaping their future, setting the right example? Speak Up explores.

The PMC was wrong in removing the statue at midnight
The whole issue revolves around the statue. The PMC was wrong in removing it at midnight. The parties in power have nothing to do with history. They only want to play caste politics. They do not have the right to change history.

Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal is an unbiased and logical person, but for the removal of the statue. What the authorities did is wrong and the reaction that the PMC received is also not justifiable. Incidences of vandalism are not justifiable wherever they happen, be it in the PMC or in Parliament.

My opinions are my personal views.

Aniruddha Deshpande, RSS, Western Maharashtra, Member, Deccan Education Society

As a teacher, Mathkari has set a bad example for students
The vandalism that happened at the PMC office was wrong. Mathkari is a reputed lecturer and his reaction is not justified. He might be politically correct in doing so (as a BJP corporator) but as a teacher he has set a bad example. A teacher is looked up to in society and vandalising national property doesn’t suit him.

He could have chosen a democratic way of protest such as going on a dharna or fast. His violent reaction doesn’t suit his prestige as a teacher. He should have thought before taking such an action.

A teacher should react with responsibility in all circumstances. Ultimately, his students will watch him and imitate him. If teachers do not understand the need to act with patience and understanding, what will we teach the students? I don’t agree with these kinds of violent and irresponsible acts.

Bhagwan Thakur, principal, Nowrosjee Wadia College

Mathkari should have opted for a democratic way of protest
The acts by BJP-Sena workers were unbecoming and unwanted. It’s not a healthy sign. As responsible citizens, nobody should harm national property. People should act in a civilised manner.

It is inappropriate for a teacher to act this way. Mathkari should have opted for a democratic way of protest. He shouldn’t have followed his fellow workers and acted irresponsibly.

Teachers are considered role models and a teacher should be responsible and understand this point. We should act as responsible citizens of a democratic society.

We shouldn’t take the law in our hands and respect and maintain law and order.

Dr Arjun Jadhav, professor, Fergusson College

Students who idolise him should not follow his acts
When Mathkari behaved irresponsibly at the PMC office, his character as a teacher took a back seat and the corporator within him reacted. He was not reacting as a teacher, but as a party worker. The question whether he is a worthy teacher is debatable.

His act of vandalism is not right. He has failed as a citizen and as a teacher. He should have acted with logic and reason instead of reacting emotionally. He was wrong as a corporator and has been irresponsible towards society.

Being a teacher and realising his duty comes much later. I hope people do not follow his violent acts, especially his students, who idolise his views and opinions.

Rucha Phatak, student, Fergusson College

How can the leaders dare to call a bandh after such violent acts
It is said that a good teacher is like a candle, which consumes itself to light the way for others. It’s shameful for a professor to preach vandalism and sabotage the ideals of teaching. There’s already a dearth of good teachers and this incident lays another example of deteriorating standards of education.

It is shocking that after committing such acts, Mathkari
and other leaders dare to call a bandh. This is when the question arises on whether such a person has the right to be a teacher.

Devanshi Desai, law student

The whole controversy is arranged for political gains
The whole action and reaction is beyond my scope of understanding. When no one knows the exact history and when nothing is proved, why are all these inappropriate actions being taken by the political parties? A certain book can’t lead to violence and tension. The whole controversy is arranged for political gains.

Mathkari is wrong in his act. How can a teacher react in such a way?  Doesn’t he know his ways might be imitated? What example is he setting before the students and society? He didn’t think before reacting. He just gave in to the situation which he shouldn’t have. He needs to react keeping his emotions in check.

Thinking, understanding and reacting with patience are virtues of a teacher. He didn’t utilise any of them. Everything should have been done lawfully. There is no use of debate, if they ultimately lead to violence and disrupt peace.

Ganesh Jadhav, student, Fergusson College

A reputed teacher being a part of such activities is shameful
This kind of inappropriate behaviour can’t be justified, no matter who does it. Mathkari is a teacher in a commerce college and must be aware that the PMC gets money from the tax people pay.

He teaches students all this, but he himself forgot when he needed to remember it the most. He should have handled the situation with patience.

Destroying things, disturbing peace causes trouble to everybody. A reputed teacher being a part of such activities is shameful. As a corporator, he should have thought of the consequences.

Troubling people for your own political gains is a common practice but when a teacher also becomes a part of this, then it’s a serious matter. We should strive to make our future better than fight for something that is over and is history. In the struggle between political parties, the common man faces problems.

A teacher getting involved in such acts is a pity.

Harshad Joshi, ex-student, Padmabhushan Vasantdada Patil Institute of Technology (PVPIT), Bavdhan

Vikas Mathkari is not at all a responsible teacher
Mathkari is not at all a responsible teacher. A teacher, who shapes students’ future, should be the first one to discourage such violent agitation. Teachers are role models for students and are expected to set good examples for them.

Students are in their growing stage and are most vulnerable when they are in college. They ape any actions without thinking of the consequences.

Hence, teachers need to be more responsible and need to express their opinions carefully in public. The duty of a teacher is not only to train but also to educate. This process of education begins during the course where the subject (student) starts admiring and acting according to a role model (teacher). Hence, a teacher’s action should be measured and balanced.

Anupam Joshi, teacher

He should have shown the youth  how to believe in democracy
The way Mathkari behaved was inappropriate for a teacher. A teacher should set a perfect example for his students to follow. Students idolise their professors. Mathkari’s act is unethical and is not justified.

As a corporator, he should have shown GenNext the way to behave and believe in democracy. He shouldn’t have behaved like a hooligan just because his party’s stand was overruled. No one will get justice if they agitate in this manner. This type of behaviour will only add fuel to the controversy instead of resolving it.

Ankita Nazare, student, Marathwada Mitra Mandal’s College of Commerce (MMCC)

If teachers protest this way, how can they be role models?
Mathkari is not worth being a teacher. The way he is protesting and agitating is not at all appropriate.If teachers start protesting in this manner, how can they face their students? How can they expect the students to think of them as role models? Mathkari and the others should have protested in the Gandhian way.

The father of our nation has taught us how to protest, so why not follow him? Such agitations caused by radical clerics only prove to be a cause of inconvenience for society.

All the buses, shops, schools and colleges have come to a standstill and many organisations are facing huge losses. The day-to-day routine has halted which has caused a problem to the masses.

M Pavitra, student, Marathwada Mitra Mandal’s College of Commerce (MMCC)