BaseLine
09-22-2004, 01:27 PM
Ghost shuts down Indian Statistical Institute
NEW DELHI: Guess what the students at the Delhi centre of Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) up to these days? Not cracking complicated problems through game theory or laws of probability. They are visiting temples and investigating the paranormal.
Books are shut, classes stalled since Friday, most students have been sent home with an unofficial holiday being declared.
The reason being even more unofficial. There is a ghost on campus.
It has not been seen by any two pair of eyes. But students, at the country's top institute of statistics and economics say they have heard knocks on their doors and have been pushed around in the staircase.
From the whiff of aftershave and the smell of cigarette smoke, they have even identified the ghost.
On August 24, a first year MStat student died a sudden death in the classroom. For most students who saw it happen at such close quarters found it "inexplicable", although it is quite explainable in medical terms.
Somebody ingenious mind came up with a theory that the boy is back. And he appears in the habit as he lived.
"A girl who never smokes, felt a strong stench of cigarette in her bathroom. The boy who died used to smoke a lot," said Saptrishi, student representative at ISI.
Many others said that the smell of deodorant and aftershave the deceased used was all over the place.
"There have been all sorts of sounds being heard in the hostel. Students got panicky. So we suggested to the authorities to shut the institute for sometime. There are no classes happening. Out of 19 MStat first year students, 13 have gone home," said Soubik Roy, from the same class.
Roy and Saptrishi are some who had the nerve to stay back. "The ones who were too scared have left," Roy said.
The authorities are doing their bit of ghostbusting. "A fear psychosis had gripped some students. We thought it was best to allow them to go home if they wanted to. We are carrying on with classes but not teaching any new topics," said Rajeeva Karandikar, head of ISI's Delhi centre.
"As compared to other institutes, ISI hostel has low occupancy. If such a tragedy (death of a student) happens, the shock and fear grips all. It is difficult to control it. But we are trying our best to fight it," said an institute professor.
So when the students wanted to visit a temple, the institute provided for a vehicle. But about a tantra-mantra puja, the authorities are not sure.
But ISI old-timers are not too happy with the institute's handling of the case. "About four years back, a girl had committed suicide in the ISI hostel but no one reacted so hysterically," said Sandipan Ray, a former PhD student.
The rationalists are more derisive of this ghost affair. "It is sad that economists, who are students of science, should make it an issue. They should not give in to such wild fears and mass hysteria. Usually there is one beginning to these stories. A person with some fear psychosis must have started it. The rest must have followed," Sanal Edamaruku, of the Indian Rationalists Association, explained.
Source: The Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/857597.cms)
NEW DELHI: Guess what the students at the Delhi centre of Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) up to these days? Not cracking complicated problems through game theory or laws of probability. They are visiting temples and investigating the paranormal.
Books are shut, classes stalled since Friday, most students have been sent home with an unofficial holiday being declared.
The reason being even more unofficial. There is a ghost on campus.
It has not been seen by any two pair of eyes. But students, at the country's top institute of statistics and economics say they have heard knocks on their doors and have been pushed around in the staircase.
From the whiff of aftershave and the smell of cigarette smoke, they have even identified the ghost.
On August 24, a first year MStat student died a sudden death in the classroom. For most students who saw it happen at such close quarters found it "inexplicable", although it is quite explainable in medical terms.
Somebody ingenious mind came up with a theory that the boy is back. And he appears in the habit as he lived.
"A girl who never smokes, felt a strong stench of cigarette in her bathroom. The boy who died used to smoke a lot," said Saptrishi, student representative at ISI.
Many others said that the smell of deodorant and aftershave the deceased used was all over the place.
"There have been all sorts of sounds being heard in the hostel. Students got panicky. So we suggested to the authorities to shut the institute for sometime. There are no classes happening. Out of 19 MStat first year students, 13 have gone home," said Soubik Roy, from the same class.
Roy and Saptrishi are some who had the nerve to stay back. "The ones who were too scared have left," Roy said.
The authorities are doing their bit of ghostbusting. "A fear psychosis had gripped some students. We thought it was best to allow them to go home if they wanted to. We are carrying on with classes but not teaching any new topics," said Rajeeva Karandikar, head of ISI's Delhi centre.
"As compared to other institutes, ISI hostel has low occupancy. If such a tragedy (death of a student) happens, the shock and fear grips all. It is difficult to control it. But we are trying our best to fight it," said an institute professor.
So when the students wanted to visit a temple, the institute provided for a vehicle. But about a tantra-mantra puja, the authorities are not sure.
But ISI old-timers are not too happy with the institute's handling of the case. "About four years back, a girl had committed suicide in the ISI hostel but no one reacted so hysterically," said Sandipan Ray, a former PhD student.
The rationalists are more derisive of this ghost affair. "It is sad that economists, who are students of science, should make it an issue. They should not give in to such wild fears and mass hysteria. Usually there is one beginning to these stories. A person with some fear psychosis must have started it. The rest must have followed," Sanal Edamaruku, of the Indian Rationalists Association, explained.
Source: The Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/857597.cms)