A march from JNU campus to Parliament today (termed the ‘Long March’ by the JNU Students Union and Teachers Union) is bringing together many issues that have long kept this Central University on the boil.
The hostility from central ministers and BJP leaders (especially since 2015) has made JNU the eye of many political storms.
Teachers are also terming this a ‘Satyagraha’, they say; “For the last two years JNU has known no peace with one controversy following closely after another one. All this has coincided almost perfectly with the assumption of office by the current VC. This VC and his administration have with the help of the media and the political establishment attempted to wreck and ruin the very institution that they head and whose interest they are supposed to promote. Thus, the VC has presided over a massive seat cut in JNU, depriving our ordinary poor and hardworking students of the opportunity to come and study at an institution like JNU. The Vice-chancellor’s actions in his two years in office are all about destroying the institution of repute and excellence that JNU has been about. In his two year tenure JNU has known no peace, as massive seat cuts have taken place, effective implementation of reservation policy has been violated, safety of women students has been compromised, students and faculty members have been harassed and tormented and worst of all, there has been a physical disappearance of one student from the campus in broad daylight and about whom we have not heard for the last year and a half, leading many to the painful conclusion that he may no longer be alive.”
The JNUTA in the statement says; “This on-going mindless and wanton destruction of JNU by the current VC and his handpicked coterie has far-reaching consequences not only for JNU but for the very idea of affordable education for all! JNUTA has, therefore, launched a Satyagraha against JNU administration’s anti-women, anti-poor, anti-democratic and, therefore anti-national actions.”
Meanwhile, 18 eminent scholars (including Romila Thapar, KM Panicker, Prabhat Patnaik) who are teachers retired from JNU have also extended their support in a statement issued 48 hours ago. (Read the statement below)
Teachers are leaving no stone unturned to protest against the VC, on a variety of issues, the protection accorded to Prof Atul Johri (facing serious charges of sexual harassment, currently out on bail), attendance regulations, the lessening of seats and indiscriminate transfers of Faculty. Day before yesterday they participated in a late-night flash mob, the first by teachers of a central university in India. See video:
Statement on JNU events (1)