Ever since I spoke on TV about the Aligar Muslim University (AMU) library issue, students from a variety of other institutions (ranging from Delhi to Guwahati to Hyderabad to Allahabad) have reached out to me about gender bias and moral policing on their campuses.

   These students have spoken about how those who have raised their voice have been victimised and so they are in fear to speak out openly. And yes, what is a common feature is the logic given to justify all the double standards for women students - ‘….. is an unsafe city/ town, we are in your parents’ place, we can’t allow girls to take risks since we’re answerable to your parents, if you raise these issues you are maligning/betraying the institution.”

   Isn’t it alarming that barring a handful of rare exceptions (less than a handful really), all higher educational institutions in our country seem to insist on treating adult....