[Reader-list] Jamia Millia should be prosecuted

[Nazneen Anand Shamsi]

>
> Dear Iram,
>
> What a pleasant surprise! I was not expecting your response until later,
> since you mentioned something about unavailability of email access. Anyways!
>
>
> I would rather skip your passage about list admin and 'prescriptions', I
> just wanted to make a point which was this- that just as you want other
> members of this list to 'desist from clicking send', because you want them
> to respect some un-written modalities of engagement, so would I, in my
> personal capacity want others to at least acknowledge some written
> modalities of engagement. It seems, all of us here- the writers, the
> responders and the readers fail sometimes to appreciate this. We would
> always want to engage with others on our own terms don't we. Please be
> patient before sending those 'desist' mails if you in your personal capacity
> cannot resist from engaging others on their terms. Just because a particular
> address is available on an internet search engine! Precisely the kind of
> attitude demonstrated by some of our co-members just because there are no
> argument-filters on reader list. Please show some respect first and then
> expect.
>
> Otherwise chart out clear, no-nonsense rules of engagement. I am all for a
> regulatory code of conduct for Sarai Reader-list.
>
>  I just want to make a point. No bad feelings. Consider it white noise and
> lets move on.
>
> Unless you wish to take this exchange forward...
>
> ------------------------------
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Regarding your response-
>
> Let me rephrase your position- you 'suggest' concerned parties involved
> with the unfortunate Jamia blasts to 'consider' an option to make autonomous
> committees on lines of All India Defense Council constituted for a fair
> trail for SAR.
>
> To quote you
> -I feel that an autonomous body (perhaps with University support - Jamia,
> JNU and DU) should be set up - that provides legal aid and counseling to
> students. The Universities can provide financial support to such a body,
> the students can contribute and raise independent funding. This is a
> tentative proposition which has had precedent in various forms of
> Committees for Defense for people accused of 'crimes' against the 'State'-
>
> Hypothetically if the three universities of Delhi need to come together to
> form an autonomous set up, then, I would think that they could do so only
> by, exploring options available to them under the UGC. No university can
> spend its money other wise. Even if UGC grants them such a permission then
> it would result in creation of a formal institution. Because every single
> paisa has to be accounted for. Proper procedure needs to be put in place,
> issues related to hierarchy, settling disputes etc needs to be dealt with.
> This institution, I would imagine, would be as autonomous as CBI ! This is
> common sense insofar as any dispensation of monies with respect to a state
> institution is concerned. Even though you may not have wanted this, but
> unfortunately the wordings of your argument suggest otherwise.
>
> Regarding Salman Khurshid. Let's enumerate what does he signify. First he
> is a politician, second he is muslim, third he is a practicing supreme court
> lawyer, fourth he is rich, and fifth he exercises a far more social
> influence as compared to a son of man from azamgarh would. Financial status
> is just one of the many aspects of his life. That is why perhaps, I was in
> total agreement to dispense aid vis-a-vis social position in this instance.
> I still do.
>
> With respect to my opinion regarding the use of same logic to dispense aid
> based on social position and not on caste, I would suggest that we talk
> about it. Because I find the use of categories to classify caste
> problematic. I think there needs to be more debate before we could even
> begin to explore this issue. However, I will not persuade anyone to
> universalize one's thinking, insomuch as one is blind to the merits of a
> case which is as particular as Jamia blasts. I believe the caste issue,
> particularly in India, is a separate issue and cannot be in any way compared
> to Jamia blasts. Hence an overarching common argument does not hold.
>
> Regarding Chandramohan's argument. You will recall that in my first
> response to your mail on this thread, I had specifically mentioned the names
> of Satyendra Dubey and Manjunath. Both were ex-students of their
> institutions, both were involved in activities that lay outside the purview
> of their institutions and both of them were killed. Yet the directors of
> their former institutions took an initiative to help set up formal bodies to
> advocate justice for them. Just as Prof.Hasan has decided to do so.
>
> I have no objections, none whatsoever, if bodies like AIDC are set up to
> defend and insist on a fair trail for Jamia blasts accused. However, in the
> non-event of setting up of such a body, I welcome the initiative taken up by
> Prof.Hasan and wish that accused will be given a fair trial.
>
> I send you and everyone else on this list good wishes for festivities next
> week.
>
> Best
>
> Nazo
>