ABVP a ‘Super Authority’: Speakers on University’s Withdrawal From Webinar

Gauhar Raza said, "What image are we creating in the world? This is an attempt to end the freedom in a university."

A central university in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar withdrew from a webinar on Friday, 30 July, after RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested against the choice of speakers who they consider to have an 'anti-national mentality'.

ABVP’s complaint to the police also led to the Sagar Superintendent of Police to write a letter to the Vice Chancellor declaring that only things on which there is prior consent should be spoken.

He also warned the university of a case under Section 505 of the Indian Penal Code if any law and order issue surfaced.

The university in question is Dr Harisingh Gour University. Its anthropology department had organised a webinar tying up with the Montclair State University in US on 'Culture and Linguistic Hurdles in the Achievement of Scientific Temper' on 30 and 31 July.

The speakers for the webinar included Delhi University professor Apoorvanand, ex-CSIR chief scientist Gauhar Raza, IIT Hyderabad professor Harjinder Singh, and Dr. Asim Hasnain, Assistant Professor, Bridgewater State University, USA.

The Quint spoke to Gauahar Raza and Apoorvanand on the entire incident.

After the police warning, the university administration asked the department to take prior permission from the HRD ministry. That permission did not come, so just two hours before the webinar was held, the university decided not to participate.

What Did Professor Apoorvanand Say?

Apoorvanand told The Quint that the university had given permission despite ABVP's objections. So till the end it was believed that there would be a webinar.

"The university started facing pressure over the webinar days before it was to be held. It was told to inform the HRD ministry and take permission from there, which is absurd because when a department organizes a program in a university, it is not even necessary to take approval from the university administration. It is a matter of the department and its members decide."

Professor Apoorvanand

Apoorvanand added, "There is enough freedom in universities for a department to be able to conduct a program. That is the life of a university and this is how the university works. But in the last 7 years we have seen that such confrontations are happening everywhere. The main reason for this is ABVP’s continuous efforts to oppose, create a ruckus or create violence.”

"In their first approach, they (ABVP) submit an application and that in itself becomes sufficient, because the university and other people get the signal. Afterall, ABVP is a member of the ruling party, so how can its signal be avoided."

Professor Apoorvanand

Apoorvanand added, this is happening in Delhi University as well and due to this, seminars have gradually reduced. He asserted, Ramjas College was attacked in 2016. Now people 'like that’ are not called at all. This is happening all over India.

Apoorvanand says that the upsetting thing in Sagar's incident is that the police is asking the university administration to make sure that only things that have prior consent can be spoken, and those things should not lead to disturbances.

"This is unprecedented and we can imagine the consequences if such an immunity is given to the police. Secondly, the threat is being given by ABVP which means that if any laws are violated, it will on ABVP’s part. You can't say that if my sentiments boil over, I will beat you up."

Professor Apoorvanand

Apoorvanand said that the Sagar incident is a recent example of how institutions themselves have ruined their dignity and it is very shameful.

Further, he asked, "What will be the image of the university in the international world if the university back out at the last minute? Now universities in India cannot pursue independent academic work and ABVP is the 'super authority', whose orders are to be followed by the university administration and the police."

The Quint also spoke to ABVP Sagar district convener Shriram Richaria, who complained against the speakers to the police and the university. He said that he had received information that some suspicious people might speak, so had complained to the registrar and the SP.

When The Quint asked on which topic the webinar was, Shriram could not give a straight answer.

What Did Gauhar Raza Say?

Gauahar Raza told The Quint that if you cannot express your views on science and scientific temper, then what is left?

"It is our constitutional duty to try to advance scientific temper but when there is a webinar on it, the ABVP is told that you attack and when they attack, pressure comes from above. Then it becomes a matter of police. I can’t understand what’s going on in the country? It is absolutely a matter of trampling our Constitution that the police dare to write a letter to the Vice Chancellor threatening that section 505 will be put.”

Gauhar Raza, Former Chief Scientist, CSIR

Should the University Have Taken a Stand?

On this question, Gauhar Raza said, "The university should not have come under pressure, but academics, people running the university, do not indulge in politics. The university tried till the end to have a webinar."

Raza added, "What image are we creating in the world? This is an attempt to end the freedom in a university. Not letting science be talked about. That has nothing to do with me or Apoorvanand. Efforts are being made so that no one can talk about science, about peace in the country, no one should be able to raise a finger and say that they are fascists.”