Cottonians Divided Over Uniform, Say The Move To Infringe Freedom

GUWAHATI: Students of the century-old Cotton College (now Cotton University) are divided whether they will wear the uniform or not.

Cotton University recently decided to make it mandatory for its higher secondary students to wear uniform from the next academic session starting in August. The university has constituted a three-member committee to chalk out a detailed plan to implement the new move aimed at inculcating discipline among students.

“I do not support the move. Cotton College has been upgraded to a university and students studying here are no longer school and college going youths. Cottonians must enjoy the freedom of wearing decent dresses. Introduction of uniform will be a curtailment of Cottonians’ rights,” a postgraduate student said.

A student of English while rejecting the argument of the university authority that uniform will ensure discipline said it is very immature plan. He said no top bracket institution of higher education in the country has introduced uniform for students. “Cottonians are disciplined youths. They do not need uniform to become disciplined students,” he said.

Even though majority of Cottonians are opposing uniform, a section of them of them are supporting the move on different grounds.

Way back in 2016, the North East’s oldest college had decided to introduce uniforms for students after a violent clash between college boarders and taxi drivers. In 2008, when I.K. Bhattacharyya was principal, the college initiated a move to introduce uniforms. In both cases the college authority could not introduce uniform after protests from students. An official at Cotton University, however, said introduction of uniform is only for higher secondary students not for undergraduate and postgraduate students. “Uniform will not be an infringement on freedom of Cottonians. There is a need to impose a dress code among Cottonians who are studying in HS classes,” the official said.

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