Democratic Are Quite Anti-Democratic: JNU Professor on Protesters

Makarand Paranjape, an English professor at JNU, narrated the incident with a video on both Facebook and Twitter.

Makarand R Paranjape, a profesor of English at Jawaharlal Nehru University, was prevented from entering his office on Monday. (Photo: The Quint)

Makarand R Paranjape, a professor of English at Jawaharlal Nehru University, was prevented from entering his office on Monday. The students who blocked his way chanted slogans of ‘We are Najib’ (sic).

A faculty member at the School of Languages, Professor Paranjape narrated the incident by posting a video on both Facebook and Twitter.

The protesters were allegedly JNUSU members.

Paranjape commented on the security at JNU calling it “ineffective”, adding in a tweet that “it was their responsibility to ensure that those who wanted to go inside the building should be allowed.”

The professor was allowed entry only when he threatened to conduct satyagraha and touched students’ feet.

In our culture, students touch our feet, even if we don’t like it; what’s wrong in touching their feet for a change. For a good cause.

Makarand R Paranjape

Professor Paranjape also said on Twitter that he has been a professor at JNU for 16 years, much before the student-protesters were even born. He further added:

If I disagree with you, you have to let me discharge my duties, to teach, read, and write; that is JNU culture too, not bullying.

The Democratic Are Often Quite Anti-Democratic Themselves: Prof Paranjape

Speaking to The Quint, Professor Paranjape said he does not know exactly which student groups were involved in the incident.

​I am not sure; I asked them but all they said is “We are Najeeb.” I said “I am Najeeb too, but you can’t prevent me from entering the building.”​

Makarand R Paranjape

He also affirmed that he has “no idea” if any disciplinarary action has been taken by the administration against those involved in the protests.

When asked if there was a background against which this specific incident can be viewed, the professor replied:

​This is clearly a leading question: the students were on strike, but the strike has nothing to do with the faculty members or the <i>karamcharis</i>. The teachers union, JNUTA, had not joined the strike. What is more, I personally may be on strike and still might wish to visit the office; so you see, there was absolutely no ground to prevent faculty members and others, even students who did not want to join the strike, from going inside the building. I told them the same thing, but they physically barred my entry until I sat down, physically dislodged their feet from the entrance. When they said, “<i>Accha jaaiye</i>,” (Alright, you may go) I ​said, “<i>Haan, yehi JNU ki reet hain, zabardasti karna nahin</i>.” (Yes, this is what JNU stands for, not bullying.)

Professor Paranjape emphasised that those who call themselves democratic are, on the contrary, “quite anti-democratic”.

​I’ll only repeat what I said in my “Nationalism” lecture, which is now published, that those who claim to be democratic are often quite anti-democratic themselves; and this includes the JNU left.​

Makarand R Paranjape

Makarand Paranjape Should Blame the VC, Not Students: Umar Khalid

File photo of Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya speaking to The Quint. (Photo: The Quint)

The Quint also reached out to JNU student Umar Khalid for his views on the events of the day. Though Khalid was not present at the protest, he did express his views on Professor Paranjape and the administration.

In the past, Makarand Paranjape is known to ridicule students, but he never said anything when Najeeb disappeared. This is an old tactic of the administration to plant their own members among students and the faculty members, and Makarand Paranjape is one such plant. Also, the VC (Vice Chancellor) is responsible for these protests, not the students, and thus, Makarand Paranjape should blame the VC and not the students.

Umar Khalid

Also Read: I Question Everything, Does That Make Me a Bad Indian: Umar Khalid

Khalid also drew attention to an essay titled The Importance of Being Makarand Paranjape, written earlier by Anirban Bhattacharya, another JNU student, about Professor Paranjape.

He (Paranjape) paints a picture of a bunch of&nbsp; unruly protesting students, voicing a set of most unreasonable demands, with the sole intention of unnecessarily raking up an issue that at best lies buried.

Anirban Bhattacharya

Bhattacharya could not be reached for a comment.

(With inputs from Kafila.)