Jamia students fear placements may be hit

Students of Jamia Millia Islamia University fear the alleged involvement of two of their fellow students in the Delhi blasts has put the university’s goodwill at stake, reports Ritika Chopra.

Students of Jamia Millia Islamia University have some real reasons for concern.

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They feel the alleged involvement of two of their fellow students — Zia-ur-Rehman and Mohammad Shakeel — in the Delhi blasts has put the university’s goodwill at stake. And this, most fear, may affect campus placements this year.

Muslim students, especially, are a worried lot and are not sure if employers would be keen on them.

“Jamia Millia has cemented its reputation over the years and there won’t be a drastic change in overall placements. But with the media constantly harping on the fact that the two suspects arrested on Sunday were Muslims and students of this university, placement prospects of (Muslim) students like me will definitely be affected,” said a first year student of Architecture on conditions of anonymity, as the university administration has instructed everybody not to talk to the media.

“Students and teachers will go on record to tell you that none of this will change anything around here. The truth is many people think most of us here were friends with those arrested. This kind of publicity is bound to affect the attitude of the prospective employers,” said another Architecture student.

The department of Economics, Mass Communication, Computer Application and Engineering here are the most popular with companies visiting Jamia Millia for recruitment every year.

Last year, Tata Consultancy Services picked up the maximum number of students from the campus. It recruited 70 students in all.

History department reader Mukul Kesavan, however, feels differently. He thinks recruitment’s would be pretty much the same.

Acknowledging the fear among students, media coordinator Rakhshanda Jalil said the Vice-Chancellor would meet students on Wednesday to address this problem.

There’ll be a peace march at Jamia on Thursday.