AIDS

News of 5 children in Kerala who have been expelled from school for being HIV-positive, against government, and legal orders, has reached me here in England. I can not say that I am shocked at the small-mindedness of the school for expelling these children, and caving into pressure from other parents who do not wish their to be "infected" by mingling with these children.

Let us start with the fact that these parents have most certainly been educated on how exactly AIDS spreads. First of all, Kerala is the most literate state in the country, and if by any chance these people were not aware that AIDS can not be contracted by their children playing or studying with the infected. they were obviously educated after their complaints to the school. So, if they were not in the dark, then the only explanation for their behaviour is that they are petty, narrow-minded, cruel, and stupid people. The school for its part has most definitely failed its students, and its community by simply giving into the pressure exerted by a few individuals, instead of taking a stand, or at least doing as ordered. We must wait to see what happens next, as the school is in violation of the law of the land.

Then, there are reports of studies showing that the numbers of infected persons with HIV in India has been grossly exaggagerated. In my belief, nothing good can come of this information going public. To begin with, we don't know if this study is, in fact, legitimate. We can not say for sure if this information is to be trusted. In a country like India, where, even today, great taboos exist with regards to sex, sex education, and sexually transmitted diseases, we can not afford to have the efforts, and the slow progress made by a committed few in spreading awareness, halted by stupid and unsubstantiated comments such as these. It is irresponsible, and only provides fodder for the moral police who view AIDS as a dirty disease that promotes promiscuity and would rather see it swept under the carpet, than addressed. Even if these reports are to be trusted, the numbers of those affected are in the millions, and the campaigns that promote safe sex, and AIDS awareness can not be stopped, or toned down.