Thank you very much for sending us the very important information. If you are
doing a signature campaign to protest this, please add our names.
Sumit Sarkar, Retired professor, History, University of Delhi
Tanika Sarkar, Retired professor of History, JNU.
On Wednesday, 5 October 2016, 5:23, ram puniyani <[email protected]>
wrote:
Friends
Perhaps you might have read that The Central University Of Hyderabad has
instituted a probe against two teachers who were involved in a production of
Mahasweta Devi’s celebrated story, Draupadi...Today’s Indian Express in
editorial “Storyteller vs mob” writes:“A students’ production of Mahasweta
Devi’s celebrated story, Draupadi, at the Central University of Haryana on
September 21 has triggered protests involving sections of the students, ABVP
cadres and local villagers in the neighbourhood who claim that it shows the
army in poor light. The university has apologised for allowing the play and has
instituted a probe against two teachers who helped with the production. The
university’s action amounts to insulting the memory of a great writer,
celebrated for her powerful articulation of the tribulations experienced by the
poor and the oppressed and their resistance. Devi is part of the literary
canon. Her writings are bound to be read, studied and staged in campuses. Like
most great writers, she wrote to disturb, provoke and reflect. It is shameful
that a central university administration chose to cower before the mob.…” In
this context, I am forwarding a link to the "Report of the People’s Tribunal on
Caste Discrimination & Police Action in the University of Hyderabad” which
narrates the circumstances leading a suicide of Rohit who fought for freedom of
expression and speech. You might be interested to browse the report. The link
https://www.academia.edu/28717 795/Report_of_the_Peoples_
Tribunal_on_Caste_Discriminati onThe main findings and recommendations are the
following. The tribunal was organized by the concerned teachers, writers, and
lawyers of Hyderabad. It was chaired by Justice K. Chandru, Retired judge
High Court Madras. Prof Govardhan Wankhede, TISS, Bombay and I were the
members. The brief to the tribunal was to examine the circumstances leading to
leading to the suicide committed by Rohit Vemula Chakravarthy, a Research
Scholar as well as the police action subsequent to his death and the existing
caste discrimination practice by the University. And, to recommend among other
things, besides protocols to enable marginalized students to fully participate
and enjoy the academic, political and social space of the university more
productively and effectively; and to examine the existing grievance redressal
systems to prevent caste discrimination in the University of Hyderabad and
evaluate their effectiveness. The Findings · The issue raised
by late Rohit Vemula Chakravarthy and his organization, (Ambedkar Students
Association) was a larger political issue related to freedom of expression and
idea of India. There was nothing ‘castesist’ in these issues, as MHRD alleged
and persuaded the University to change its earlier decision and take action
against the Dalit students. Instead of looking at the issue in larger
perspective, the adversary of ASA dubbed it ‘casteist, extremist and
anti-national’.· The manner in which the university authority
conducted the inquiry against Rohit and other Dalit students give an impression
of targeting them for their political position. At least that is how the Dalit
students and many perceived. · Rohith’s suicide in
the UoH is not the first one. In less than ten years, three other students had
committed suicide. The University has done nothing to prevent recurrence of
suicides of students in the past. This was despite the fact that the earlier
committees, appointed by the University, consisted of the university teachers,
had made recommendations to set right things regarding student issues. What is
disturbing is that UoH has not yet taken these suggestions made by their own
colleagues seriously. · Even as early as the year 2013 the
High Court of Andhra Pradesh (now renamed as High Court of Telangana and Andhra
Pradesh) in PIL No.106/2013 had issued several directives to all the
Universities in the state to prevent recurrence of suicides. However, neither
the UGC Regulations of 2012 nor the Court directives nor UOH Committee
recommendations have been implemented. Recommendations 1. The University
should immediately implement the AP High Court Order Interim Measure No 3 that
calls upon the University for instituting a Special Commission to review
disciplinary orders imposing major penalties such as rustication, expulsion
from hostels and stoppage of fellowships in the case of all students and
especially those from SC/ST/OBC and other marginalised backgrounds.2.
Although at the University level, there are entities such as Office of the
Dean, Students’ Welfare, the Central Grievance Committee, and SC/ST cell to
address any problems faced by the students, there is no formal, institutional
mechanism in any of the Schools for redressal of grievances of students,
especially those who belong to the marginalized categories. The existence of
such agencies even at the University level and the procedures to be followed
are not widely known to the student community. The doctoral committees, which
may be expected to take up this role, exist more on paper than in practice in
all the schools.3. The University should institute as early as possible the
Grievance Redressal Committee headed by the Ombudsman as per UGC (Grievance
Redressal) Regulation 2012. And, on the priority basis, it must implement all
the Directives in the Order passed by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh in W.P
(PIL) No. 106/2013.4. It appears that UoH has not yet set up the Equal
Opportunity Cell headed by the Anti-discrimination Officer as per the UGC
(Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations 2012. That
has to be done urgently. Simultaneously, SC/ST cell to safeguard the interests
of SC/ST students; and remedial coaching in English language programme to
improve their academic performance require review and to be made more
effective.5. The university requires the formation of a broad-based
“Students Counselling System”. Such system needs to be interactive involving
students, teachers and parents to address common student concerns ranging from
anxiety, stress, fear of change and failure to homesickness and a slew of
academic worries. 6. The University should on priority basis appoint
anti-discriminatory faculty advisors for SC/ST students. It is a
responsibility of the advisors to work as watchdogs to protect the students
against discrimination. Moreover, they should also look into the problems
–personal and academic- faced by the students and advise them accordingly. They
should work as counsellors.7. The University does not have effective
system encouraging one-to-one student- teacher relationship at all levels. The
students in general and those belong to the marginalised communities feel
alienated in the university system. Besides classroom and laboratory teaching,
the teachers need to make a special effort to cultivate a one-to-one
relationship with all the students so that when a student needs guidance/advice
s/he can contact a teacher without fear. This responsibility needs to be
interwoven with teaching and guidance. If needed teacher-student ratio needs to
be reduced so that all the teachers get opportunities to spend time with the
students. 8. The teachers need to be more sensitive towards the students
coming from the rural background and of the marginalised communities. They
need to self-introspect critically regarding their bias and approach towards
the students belonging to the different social background than theirs. All the
three committees appointed by the university have emphasised this. 9.
Universities in general and the elite universities, in particular, should not
only be the centre for disseminating knowledge but they should also disseminate
knowledge in such a way that it provides space to the subaltern and empower
them by enhancing their capacity and self-confidence. It is dangerous if the
dissemination of knowledge reinforces and legitimizes inequality in society.
The task of university needs to inculcate values among students of mutual
respect, equality, and fraternity.10. Universit y has an
important role in creating and disseminating knowledge in society. In order to
facilitate the task, it needs to provide congenial space for critical inquiry
without fear. Within the university boundaries, no concept/idea/symbol is
sacrosanct. The academic community enjoys the freedom to express their views
and debate on all issues under the sky without fear. Dissent is a core of
critical thinking which needs to be allowed and protected within the university
campus. University is not a factory to manufacture robots. It is a place to
develop a critical mind. Everyone has a right to dissent, including dissent
against capital punishment. The university of Hyderabad needs to protect such
freedom. Dialogue and debate have to be an integral part of academic life.
Without that, the university would be dead. I hope you will be interested to
read the report. Please give your comments.RegardsGhanshyamPeoples Media
Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with the support from
group of senior journalists, social activists, academics and intellectuals from
Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate Dalits issues in the
mainstream media. To create proper & adequate space with the Dalit perspective
in the mainstream media national/ International on Dalit issues is primary
objective of the PMARC.You are receiving this message because you are a member
of the community Dalits Media Watch.View this contribution on the web siteA
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