I took a speech and debate class in middle school which I remember fondly. I used to give my persuasive speeches on trying to convince people that there was in fact such a thing as the Loch Ness Monster, Aliens, and Bigfoot. It didn’t matter whether they really existed or not in fact. It just mattered how well I did convincing the other students that they did. Well, let me try with SepiaMutiny readers. From the Times of India:

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.

My inner Fox Mulder has just been aroused. But who is this “ghost.” What does it want?

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.

Ummm. Helloooo? Can anybody say “smoking gun.” Have I persuaded you yet? The students want to hold a tantra-mantra puja. Is that like an exorcism? Can someone fill me in?

The truth is out there.