A circular issued by the registrar of the Central University of Tamil Nadu in Thiruvarur, has advised students against indulging in “unauthorised activities against government policies”.
The circular, issued on September 10, read, “It has come to the notice of the university that a few students are planning to indulge in unauthorised activities, viz assembling in the common place, organising rally, expressing dissension, agitation, etc against government policies,” reported The Wire,
“University regulations prohibit congregation for political or religious or any other matters, other than matters relating to education and research”, the circular added.
The students say that this is not the first time the university has tried to crush dissenting voices. Several current and former students of the university reveal that attempts to “saffronise” the campus began over a year ago.
In August last year, the university management organised an essay competition – the relevance of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s political philosophy in the 21st century – to commemorate Deendayal Upadhyaya’s birth anniversary. Several students protested this, calling it an attempt at “academicsaffronisation,” reported independent journalist Kavitha Muralidharan.
“We took out a rally to express our dissent, we did not think of stopping it,” says another student.
While the administration claims that political activities are prohibited, the students allege that a faculty member help set up a wing of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the RSS affiliated student organisation, on the university campus last year.
“We know for a fact that a faculty member is involved in setting up ABVP in the campus. Often ABVP meetings are held inside the campus, in the classroom of the Hindi department,” a student said.
V. Mariappan, Secretary of the Tamil Nadu unit of Students’ Federation of India (SFI) said, “Finding it tough to establish itself politically in Tamil Nadu, the Hindutva forces are now trying to gain ground through educational institutions.”
“While the ABVP could function openly in a campus like Central University in Thiruvarur, a student is being harassed only because he is affiliated with SFI. At least three vice-chancellors in the state today are right-wing apologists. It is sad that the ADMK government is turning a blind eye to this blatant academic saffronisation in Tamil Nadu,” he added.
The university administration refuted these claims,“The University has not set up wings for any political outfits on the campus. In fact, the university and its statutes are against it, as it could potentially affect academics.”