[Reader-list] Assault upon the Delhi University History
Partha Dasgupta
parthaekka at gmail.com
Sat Mar 1 13:55:02 IST 2008
Dear Radikarajen,
As things are today, a loud voice shouting is being accepted as the view of
the majority, and would have been even in the disgraceful ABVP episode(s)
had others not raised their voice back and made it abundantly obvious that
a) the ABVP protestors had absolutely no clue what the issue was and that b)
they do *not *have a following of their absurd concept of moral policing.
As adults, we have a mind, and a right to believe what we want to without
loud voices shouting in our ear and telling us what to do. It is completely
my personal choice whether or not I wish to buy a Hussain painting or not
(not that I could begin to afford them). As an artist, he is completely free
to depict a God or Goddesses as he wants. I mean, next the jockey club may
want to lodge cases against him for the way he has drawn horses!! That is so
absurd...
I for one refuse to believe that the value of a God or a Goddess or our
faith in them can be affected by the way someone paints / draws them. Or
will we now take up the axe against the artistes who create icons of God for
Durga and Kali puja and leave them undressed and unadorned while they are
readying them for the Puja. Or should we take action against street vendors
who put posters of Gods and Goddesses on the streetside to sell as they get
dirty!!
Wouldn't we be far better off looking at something more constructive like
education or infrastructure or a host of other areas that this country needs
help (other than from the bumbling and uninformed moral policing of the
ABVP, that is).
Rgds, Partha
............................................
On Sat, Mar 1, 2008 at 1:06 PM, <radhikarajen at vsnl.net> wrote:
> Hi, as the things today are, freedom of speech for an individual who lives
> in society has rights of speech, but can they be absolute rights over the
> societal rights, is the big debating issue. No doubt freedom of speech of an
> individual is not absolute and is to some extent the individual has to use
> moderation in his/her expression to be sensible about this right to express
> what is considered as against the societal rights.
> Otherwise the issue of M F Hussain painting his prophet and earning
> crores for that would not be an issue as he chose to earn crores by painting
> some one elses' idols for his gains. Same is the issue with that cartoonist
> in danish cartoons, he had no courage to cartoon his christ but chose some
> one else. Taslima is that way more gutsy, as she focusses on ills in her
> commune and society but still is hounded by her own faith loyalists who
> term themselves as staunch believers. ?
> Regards.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Partha Dasgupta <parthaekka at gmail.com>
> Date: Friday, February 29, 2008 4:45 pm
> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Assault upon the Delhi University History
> To: radhikarajen at vsnl.net
>
> > Dear Radhikarajen,
> >
> > The debate here is about freedom of speech and religion. What the
> > ABVP goons
> > are doing is enforcing a point of view about religion without even
> > knowingwhat they are talking about.
> >
> > Sure, we can go into the use of goons by political parties, and a
> > host of
> > other issues, but those are all besides the point of this debate.
> >
> > Rgds, Partha
> > ...............................
> >
> > On Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 4:08 PM, <radhikarajen at vsnl.net> wrote:
> >
> > > Dear Partha,
> > >
> > > isn't it true that every political party has students wing,
> > every party
> > > uses them to train up as goons, whereas the need of the society
> > is to
> > > channelise their energies in to productive societal use, why
> > this singling
> > > out of saffron goons when we have goons in every party as seen
> > just now the
> > > "farmers" mobilised for the budget approval, by goons for the
> > goons. ?
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Partha Dasgupta <parthaekka at gmail.com>
> > > Date: Friday, February 29, 2008 2:23 pm
> > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Assault upon the Delhi University History
> > > To: radhikarajen at vsnl.net
> > > Cc: reader-list at sarai.net
> > >
> > > > Dear Radhikarajen,
> > > >
> > > > As an art student, learnt of the 'renaissance movement' in Europe
> > > > when after
> > > > decades of being kept in strict check by the Papal Church,
> > > > artistes and
> > > > people from different walks of life refused to swallow what was
> > > > forced upon
> > > > them in terms of belief.
> > > >
> > > > And I do hope that this madness of enforcing 'belief' stops soon
> > > > and is
> > > > replaced with a modern renaissance movement. Todays' paper also
> > > > contains an
> > > > incident where the ABVP goofed badly without knowing their
> > facts -
> > > > whichunfortunately seems to be the rule with ABVP instead of being
> > > > an exception!
> > > >
> > > > Rgds, Partha
> > > > ..............................
> > > >
> > > > On Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 2:02 PM, <radhikarajen at vsnl.net> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Dear Sadan,
> > > > >
> > > > > it is open secret that JNU and DU is filled with psuedo secular
> > > > > "scholars" with political connections for "educating the
> > cadres for
> > > > > subversion of democratic India, living examples are Yechury and
> > > > Karats in
> > > > > public life. That apart, politicians fill in their useless wards
> > > > in to
> > > > > paying jobs at these two filling stations.
> > > > > Secularism does not mean disrespect to any faith, but
> > respect to all
> > > > > faiths. Left parties consistently with abetting Congress have
> > > > undermined the
> > > > > faith and built non believers in to cadres of violent
> > workers, later
> > > > > politburo uses these cadres for their selfish gains like in
> > > > Nandigram or
> > > > > Singur is well documented now.
> > > > > Regards.
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: Sadan Jha <sadan at sarai.net>
> > > > > Date: Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:25 pm
> > > > > Subject: [Reader-list] Assault upon the Delhi University History
> > > > > To: reader-list at sarai.net
> > > > >
> > > > > > Dear All,
> > > > > > Today, I have read this mail from H-ASIA and thought to
> > share it
> > > > > > with you.
> > > > > > This is in solidarity with faculty members and students of
> > History> > > > Department, D.U.
> > > > > > sadan.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > H-ASIA: Assault upon the Delhi University History Department
> > > > H-ASIA
> > > > > > Frank Conlon <conlon at u.washington.edu> to H-ASIA
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > H-ASIA
> > > > > > Feburary 25, 2008
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Assault by Hindutva mob on the Delhi University History
> > Department> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> ************************************************************************> >
> > > From: Frank Conlon
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Earlier this month, our colleague Sumit Guha, forwarded
> > some posts
> > > > > > regarding a protest that had been generated by the VHP-
> > linked ABVP
> > > > > > (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad)--a highly politicized
> > > > "student"> > movement of the Hindu right in India. Some of our
> > > > readers will take
> > > > > > exception to that
> > > > > > description, but on the basis of all press accounts, I feel
> > > > > > comfortable writing it.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Like everything else, the story requires some context, and,
> > > > > > remarkably, as in the debacle fifteen years ago when a
> > > > > > Hindutva-inspired crowd demolished a mosque at Ayodhya on the
> > > > pretense> > that it was built on the actual historical birthplace
> > > > of the god Rama,
> > > > > > Rama once again figures prominently in the story. Over
> > the past
> > > > > > months there has been a resurgance "Rama"publicity
> > arising in
> > > > part> > out of a proposed dredging of the sea bed near the
> > > > southern tip of
> > > > > > India for creation of a safe deepwater passage for coastal
> > > > vessels.> > This was seized upon by interested parties who argued
> > > > that this
> > > > > > dredging would involve disruption of a natural feature in the
> > > > seabed,> > known as "the Rama Setu" that has been credited in
> > > > mythology to
> > > > > > Rama's conquest of Lanka in the Ramayana epic poem.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > In popular consciousness mythology usually trumps geology and
> > > > > > hydrology--(and I refer here not only to India!) if they ever
> > > > mix it
> > > > > > up in the ring of public affairs. So, much has been written
> > > > in the
> > > > > > past months about reasserting the vitality of Lord Rama
> > and the
> > > > > > preservation of the Rama legacy.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Ever alert for issues upon which to mobilize followers and
> > > > generate> > press, a substory of the above emerged in Delhi
> > > > earlier this year.
> > > > > > Protests were mounted over what was called a "book"
> > > > "published" by the
> > > > > > Delhi University History Department--and attributed--
> > > > erroneously--to
> > > > > > Professor Upinder
> > > > > > Singh, a Professor of Archaeology and Ancient Indian
> > History. The
> > > > > > fact that Professor Singh happens to be the daughter of Prime
> > > > Minister> > Manmohan Singh is, one suspects, not coincidental with
> > > > the association
> > > > > > of her name with the protest. The "book" was in fact not a
> > > > > > publication at all, but a
> > > > > > collection of "readings" for the Delhi University concurrent
> > > > > > course on
> > > > > > Ancient Indian Culture in the B. A. (Honours) programme. The
> > > > packet> > included an essay by (late) A. K. Ramanujan, titled
> > > > "Three Hundred
> > > > > > Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translation",
> > > > which has
> > > > > > appeared earlier in a collection of the works of Ramanuman
> > > > edited by
> > > > > > Vinay Dharwadker and previously in Paula Richman's path-
> > breaking> > > > collection of essyas _Many Ramayanas: The
> > Diversity of a Narrative
> > > > > > Tradition in South Asia_ (U California Press, 1991). Of
> > > > course, many
> > > > > > readers of H-ASIA are
> > > > > > familiar with the broad corpus of A. K. Ramanujan's
> > > > contributions to
> > > > > > the study of the history and culture of India including his
> > > > wonderful> > translations of Tamil and Kannada bhakti poetry.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > At some point, a packet of these essays was photocopied in
> > a Delhi
> > > > > > shop with a "title page" crediting Upinder Singh, and out of
> > > > that was
> > > > > > manufactured a "new outrage regarding the hurting of
> > feelings of
> > > > > > devout Hindus" by the Delhi University History Department.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > An example of the rhetoric plied against Ramanujan's essay may
> > > > suffice> > to give a flavor of the campaign.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > From http://www.hindujagruti.org/news/3819.html
> > > > > > The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti Jan 18, 2008 post proclaims that
> > > > > > Ramanujan in his essay "even sorts out a tale from Santhal
> > > > folklore> > and puts forth the greatest outrage to Hindu psyche
> > > > before the
> > > > > > students of literature that Ravan as well as Lakshman both
> > seduced> > > > Sita. No one on Earth so far dared to question the
> > character> > of Sita
> > > > > > so brazenly as Shri Ramanunjan has done, though, all through
> > > > under the
> > > > > > convenient cover of a folklore!
> > > > > > "Sorting and picking out anything negative found in different
> > > > versions> > of Ramayana spread all over the world with malicious
> > > > intention has
> > > > > > become a practice under the UPA [current Indian coalition
> > > > government].> > Despite the repeated protests by Hindu leaders,
> > > > Shiksha Bharati and
> > > > > > Shiksha Bachao Andolan, the practice still continues.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "In a latest instance, the Delhi University for its BA (Hons)
> > > > second> > year course has included portions defaming and
> > > > denigrating the
> > > > > > characters of Lord Ram, Hanuman, Lakshman and Sita and
> > > > projecting the
> > > > > > entire episode as fallacious, capricious, imaginary and fake."
> > > > and
> > > > > > it goes on to cite a
> > > > > > groundswell of Hindu indignation that such blasphemies
> > could be
> > > > > > perpetrated by the Delhi University History department,
> > and, of
> > > > > > course, in particular, the daughter of the Prime Minister.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On February 2, 2008, the Delhi University History Department
> > > > issued> > the following statement:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, UNIVERSITY OF DELHI,
> > > > > > IN ITS MEETING OF 04/02/2008
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 1. A number of groups have organised protest and have
> > raised> > > > objections to the inclusion of an essay by (late) A.
> > K. Ramanujan,
> > > > > > titled "Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three
> > > > Thoughts on
> > > > > > Translation". The essay had been published in Vinay
> > > > Dharwadker (ed.)
> > > > > > The Collected Essays of A. K. Ramanujan, New Delhi: Oxford
> > > > University> > Press, 1999, pp. 131-60; [this was an expanded
> > > > version of a piece
> > > > > > that first
> > > > > > appeared in Paula Richman (ed.) Many Ramayanas: The Diversity
> > > > of a
> > > > > > Narrative Tradition in South Asia Berkeley: niversity of
> > > > California> > Press, 1991]. The said essay is one of he readings
> > > > for the Delhi
> > > > > > University concurrent course on ncient Indian Culture in
> > the B.
> > > > > > A.(Honours) programme, which has been offered in several
> > > > Colleges from
> > > > > > July 2006 onwards.
> > > > > > 2. The sole purpose of this course is to create an
> > > > awareness and
> > > > > > understanding of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of
> > ancient> > > > India among students, and to acquaint them with
> > original sources.
> > > > > > Apart from the reading mentioned in the letter, the course
> > > > includes> > readings on Kalidasa's poetry, Jataka stories, ancient
> > > > Tamil poets and
> > > > > > poetry, ancient
> > > > > > iconography, and the modern history of ancient artifacts. The
> > > > > > essay is
> > > > > > part of a unit titled 'The Ramayana and Mahabharata - stories,
> > > > > > characters, versions.' It is accompanied by an excerpt from
> > > > Iravati> > Karve's book, Yuganta: The end of an epoch.
> > > > Supplementary readings
> > > > > > include the Introduction of Robert P. Goldman's The
> > Ramayana of
> > > > > > Valmiki: an epic of
> > > > > > ancient India (the most recent and most authoritative English
> > > > > > translation of the epic), which gives a detailed, scholarly
> > > > > > introduction to the Valmiki Ramayana.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 3. The late A. K. Ramanujan (recipient of several
> > honours,> > > > including the Padmashri) was a widely acclaimed
> > scholar with
> > > > > > impeccable academic credentials. His expertise in a range of
> > > > languages> > including Sanskrit,Tamil and Kannada was perhaps
> > > > without parallel. His
> > > > > > credentials as a scholar, writer, and teacher with extensive
> > > > knowledge> > of ancient Indian literary traditions are
> > > > incontestable. It is sad to
> > > > > > see his name and work
> > > > > > being subjected so such ill-informed controversy. In the
> > > > article in
> > > > > > question, he illustrates and analyses the great dynamism and
> > > > variety> > in what he describes as 'tellings' of the story of Rama
> > > > within India
> > > > > > and across the world.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 4. The concurrent course on Ancient Indian Culture
> > and the
> > > > > > readings for it went through the same procedure as all other
> > > > courses> > in the University of Delhi pass before being adopted.
> > > > The readings
> > > > > > have not been devised or 'compiled' by any individual. Like
> > > > all the
> > > > > > other University courses, they are the product of a
> > consultative> > > > process involving many members of the
> > University community. The
> > > > > > content and readings for this
> > > > > > course were discussed extensively among Department members and
> > > > College> > teachers, and were approved through the regular
> > > > University procedures
> > > > > > in statutory bodies, namely the Committee of Courses,
> > Faculty of
> > > > > > Social Sciences, Academic Council, and the Executive Council,
> > > > which> > include
> > > > > > teachers of all disciplines. The Academic Council is the
> > highest> > > > statutory body on academic matters in the University.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 5. We would like to emphasize that there is no published
> > > > > > compilation of the course readings by Dr. Upinder Singh or any
> > > > other> > member of the Department of History. However, it has
> > > > come to our
> > > > > > notice that there is a spiral-bound collection of photocopies
> > > > of the
> > > > > > individual articles and excerpts related to this course at
> > certain> > > > photocopying shops. This set of hotocopies has a
> > covering page on
> > > > > > which Dr. Upinder Singh's name has been typed, without any
> > > > > > authorization whatsoever, as a 'compiler.' It is this
> > > > collection of
> > > > > > photocopies that is being incorrectly described as a 'book'
> > > > compiled> > by her. There is in fact no book.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 6. When readings are prescribed in a course, it is not
> > > > essential> > that the course-designers, teachers, or students
> > > > should agree with or
> > > > > > defend each and every word therein. In fact debate,
> > dissent, and
> > > > > > dialogue are important parts of the discipline of history. It
> > > > may be
> > > > > > pointed out that the terms that have apparently caused
> > offence to
> > > > > > certain individuals should in no way be construed as
> > > > mischievous or
> > > > > > slanderous. There is no question whatsoever of intending or
> > > > attempting> > to denigrate or hurt the sentiments of any culture,
> > > > religion,> > tradition, or community.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 7. The aim of the course in question is to teach
> > University> > > > students (who are, after all, young adults) to
> > be able to
> > > > analyze a
> > > > > > variety of source material academically, analytically, and
> > without> > > > embarrassment or denigration. That is the spirit in
> > which the
> > > > course> > was framed and that is the spirit in which we
> > believe it
> > > > is being
> > > > > > taught.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > ------
> > > > > > On the same day _The Telegraph_ (Kolkata) reported that
> > > > Mayawati, the
> > > > > > Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh had demanded that "the
> > book" be
> > > > > > banned.
> > > > > > (
> > > > >
> > > >
> > http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080203/jsp/nation/story_8857319.jsp)under<http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080203/jsp/nation/story_8857319.jsp%29under>
> <
> http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080203/jsp/nation/story_8857319.jsp%29under>>
> <
> > >
> >
> http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080203/jsp/nation/story_8857319.jsp%29under>a>
> headline:
> > > > > > "PM daughter in Ramayan row"
> > > > > >
> > > > > > New Delhi, Feb. 2: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayavati has
> > > > asked the
> > > > > > Prime Minister to ban a text recommended for Delhi University
> > > > history> > students that allegedly contains objectionable
> > > > references to
> > > > > > characters in the Ramayan.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Mayavati made the written request to Manmohan Singh after the
> > > > Akhil> > Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the BJP's student
> > > > wing, protested
> > > > > > in Delhi and Lucknow, claiming the contentious text was part
> > > > of a book
> > > > > > compiled by the Prime Minister's daughter Upinder Singh.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Upinder Singh, a professor of ancient Indian history at
> > DU, has,
> > > > > > however, denied she had compiled the piece or recommended it
> > > > to her
> > > > > > students.
> > > > > > "I have absolutely nothing to do with this text. The
> > contentious> > > > article is not written by me. Nor is there any
> > book of mine which
> > > > > > contains the article. I fail to understand why I am being
> > > > linked to
> > > > > > the text," she told The Telegraph.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Sources close to Mayavati confirmed that the chief minister
> > > > had not
> > > > > > yet seen the "book", but said her letter to the Prime
> > Minister was
> > > > > > motivated by concerns over law and order in her state."
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The report continued with a quotation from the ABVP Delhi
> > General> > > > Secretary Ms. Niharika Sharma "This is a deliberate
> > attempt to
> > > > hurt> > the sentiments of the Hindu community." Asked why the ABVP
> > > > was seeking
> > > > > > a ban instead of allowing college students to debate the
> > contents> > > > of a
> > > > > > research publication, Sharma said the organisation was worried
> > > > > > students would feel pressured to replicate Ramanujan's
> > version in
> > > > > > their exam.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "If the article is taught, students will be expected to
> > > > reproduce it
> > > > > > in exams as well. IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, UNLESS YOU WRITE
> > > > WHAT IS
> > > > > > TAUGHT IN CLASS, YOU DO NOT GET MARKS [emphasis added] Hindu
> > > > students> > will be
> > > > > > forced to write something they do not believe in," she said.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The ABVP has already sent memoranda to the DU vice-chancellor
> > > > and the
> > > > > > head of the history department seeking deletion of Ramanujan's
> > > > essay> > from the course. "Upinder Singh has most definitely
> > > > compiled a book
> > > > > > with the objectionable text as a chapter. The book has not yet
> > > > been> > published but we have a copy," Sharma said."
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Karl Rove has nothing to teach the Hindu Right when it
> > comes to
> > > > > > generating controversy (and here I will adopt the standard
> > > > American> > ploy for remarks that generate offense--I apologize
> > > > to those who may
> > > > > > be offended by my editorial comment. FFC]
> > > > > >
> > > > > > To make a long story longer, today I received a report
> > that a
> > > > > > group of
> > > > > > ABVP activists vandalized the office of the Delhi University
> > > > History> > department and physically manhandled the head of the
> > > > department. The
> > > > > > following is reproduced as received including a note from the
> > > > Head of
> > > > > > Department Professor S. Z. H. Jafri and an open letter from
> > > > department> > students. It was forwarded by Professor Indrani
> > > > Chatterjee.> >
> > > > > > Dear Colleague,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > This is to inform you that the ABVP activists had come to the
> > > > > > Department around 2.00 p.m. with the intention of causing some
> > > > damage> > to the structure and gaining some mileage from it. They
> > > > partly> > succeeded in their venture. No injuries to anybody
> > > > except the glass
> > > > > > doors has been caused. The other details you can see from the
> > > > > > students letter which follows.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Professor S.Z.H. JAFRI
> > > > > >
> > > > > > DOWN WITH ABVP VIOLENCE ON CAMPUS!
> > > > > > PUNISH THE CULPRITS!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 25th February 2008. At about 2 pm in the afternoon an
> > organised> > > > mob of
> > > > > > more than 100 people from outside the university led by
> > the ABVP
> > > > > > activist Vikas Dahiya gathered outside the building of the
> > > > School of
> > > > > > Social Sciences. Some 8-10 people came to the office of the
> > > > Head of
> > > > > > the Department of History, Prof S.Z.H. Jafri saying that they
> > > > wished> > to speak
> > > > > > to him and to Prof B.P. Sahu about the curriculum of BA
> > Part II,
> > > > > > History (Concurrent). They insisted on speaking only once the
> > > > media> > was present.
> > > > > > Once the media arrived, in place of speaking to the
> > department> > > > members, they began to ransack the department.
> > Even without
> > > > speaking> > or giving a chance to the people present there from
> > > > the department to
> > > > > > speak, these people toppled the table and ransacked the office
> > > > of the
> > > > > > head of the
> > > > > > department. One of them also manhandled Prof. Jafri and held
> > > > him by
> > > > > > his collar and hurled abuses at those present there.
> > Considerable> > > > damage to the property of the department by
> > breaking the glass
> > > > panes,> > damaging books, office files and other objects in the
> > > > office was done
> > > > > > and all inthe presence of the media personnel and the very
> > passive> > > > police! The outsiders threatened the faculty
> > members and
> > > > warned them
> > > > > > of dire consequences. This is a clear act of vandalism. It is
> > > > clear> > that they had come with the clear intention of
> > > > perpetuating violence
> > > > > > in the department and it was a planned action to create an
> > > > atmosphere> > of terror.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > This incidence occurred in the very presence of the police
> > > > personnel> > as well as the media. The media footage would clearly
> > > > show all that
> > > > > > happened in the office of the head of the Department of
> > > > History on the
> > > > > > 25th afternoon. The attack by 8-10 robust hooligans, not
> > > > belonging to
> > > > > > the university, on absolutely defenceless faculty members
> > of the
> > > > > > Department of
> > > > > > History is a shameful act in itself. Trying to force the
> > faculty> > > > members to change the curriculum of history which
> > has been
> > > > passed by
> > > > > > the due legal process of the University through the use of
> > force> > > > is a
> > > > > > clear act of fascism which is not acceptable in a democracy.
> > > > Freedom> > of expression is a fundamental right of every
> > > > individual and any
> > > > > > encroachment on the same is
> > > > > > not tolerable. It is democratic structures and values
> > which are
> > > > > > seriously threatened.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > This is an appeal from the students of history department
> > to
> > > > > > everyone in the University to raise their voice against this
> > > > > > vandalism and this fascist attempt to scuttle the freedom of
> > > > > > expression . We appeal to all students, staff and teachers
> > > > > >
> > > > > > To JOIN the Protest March at 10.30 a.m. at Vivekanand Statue,
> > > > Faculty> > of Arts on the 26th of February, 2008.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Whether one feels that A. K. Ramanujan was a great
> > > > intellectual or
> > > > > > not; and whether one agrees that India's past is a fit
> > subject for
> > > > > > critical analysis, I believe that H-ASIA members will
> > deplore this
> > > > > > 'media-savvy' creation of a physical assault on an academic
> > > > department> > at Delhi University.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > As of the moment, I have not received an e-mail address to
> > which> > > > comments may be relayed, but one immediate
> > possibility would
> > > > be to
> > > > > > send comment for forwarding to Dr. Mahesh Rangarajan
> > > > > > <rangarajan.mahesh at gmail.com> at Delhi University. The postal
> > > > address> > for the head of the department is:
> > > > > > Prof. Saiyid Zaheer Hussain Jafri,
> > > > > > Head,
> > > > > > Department of History,
> > > > > > Faculty of Social Science building,
> > > > > > University of Delhi,
> > > > > > Delhi-110007.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I will add one more personal editorial note that again
> > will offend
> > > > > > some folks (and not the ones offended earlier either)--this
> > > > episode> > offers, in my view, the fruits of politicizing the past
> > > > and our study
> > > > > > of it--and while concepts of secular humanistic research in
> > > > Europe,> > America and other parts of the world may not resemble
> > > > the Indian
> > > > > > concept in which secularism means "no offense to any
> > religion"-
> > > > -we
> > > > > > frequently find urselves as scholars and teachers facing the
> > > > > > "concerns" of various practitioners of what may be called
> > > > 'identity> > politics'--in the secure world of North America, the
> > > > risks of mob
> > > > > > action are small--but there are far too many university
> > > > > > administrators--wedded to the concept of 'student as
> > customer' who
> > > > > > wring their hands over anything academic which smacks of
> > > > ontroversy.> > In other words, Delhi University's misfortune is
> > > > not quite as exotic
> > > > > > as some folks on this side of the kala pani would like to
> > believe.> > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Frank
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Frank F. Conlon
> > > > > > Professor Emeritus of History, South Asian
> > > > > > Studies & Comparative Religion
> > > > > > University of Washington
> > > > > > Seattle, WA 98195-3560 USA
> > > > > > Co-editor, H-ASIA
> > > > > > President, H-NET Humanities & Social Sciences Online
> > > > > > Managing Director, Bibliography of Asian Studies Online
> > > > > >
> > ******************************************************************> > >
> > To post to H-ASIA simply send your message to:
> > > > > > <H-ASIA at h-net.msu.edu>
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --
> > > > > > Sadan Jha
> > > > > > Assistant Professor,
> > > > > > Centre for Social Studies.
> > > > > > Vir Narmad South Gujarat University Campus. Udhna-Magdalla
> > Road.> > > > Surat. Gujarat. India.
> > > > > > blog: mamuliram.blogspot.com
> > > > > > _________________________________________
> > > > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> > > > > > Critiques & Collaborations
> > > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-
> > request at sarai.net with
> > > > > > subscribe in the subject header.
> > > > > > To unsubscribe:
> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-
> > > > > > list
> > > > > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
> > > > > _________________________________________
> > > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> > > > > Critiques & Collaborations
> > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net
> > with> > > subscribe in the subject header.
> > > > > To unsubscribe:
> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> > > > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Partha Dasgupta
> > > > +919811047132
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Partha Dasgupta
> > +919811047132
> >
>
--
Partha Dasgupta
+919811047132
More information about the reader-list
mailing list