[Reader-list] Teachers’ Statement against censorship in JNU

[Jeebesh]

Teachers’ Statement against censorship in JNU

Submitted to the Vice Chancellor of JNU

April 8, 2010

We, members of the teaching community of JNU, strongly object to the  
circular issued by the Associate Dean of Students (dated March 29,  
2010) that requires students to seek permission one week in advance  
for organizing talks and events on hostel premises. More disturbingly,  
the proforma for seeking permission includes questions regarding the  
affiliation and name of the speaker if the event is to be followed by  
discussion, full details including producers, for film screenings, and  
states that "events that may be sensitive to national integration/ 
national harmony and may have implications for national security will  
not be permitted."

  We object to the circular on two grounds: First, Provosts are not  
empowered to institute such sweeping changes without discussion in the  
wider JNU community. Second, this attempt to censor freedom of  
expression and intellectual activity on the JNU campus is unacceptable  
to us under any circumstances.

  Free exchange of opinions, however controversial, is at the heart of  
any institution of modern learning, but especially of JNU, which was  
established precisely to promote "a democratic way of life" as well as  
"an awareness and understanding of social needs." The circular will  
destroy the tradition of critical debate and discussion that has been  
such a special part of JNU culture and history.

  JNU is a space where the freedom to debate censorship itself must be  
protected. This circular attempts to control the very freedom to  
question authority that it is our responsibility to ensure.

  This circular must be withdrawn with immediate effect.

  Endorsements received by Email

1.         Romila Thapar

2.         Amit Bhaduri

3.         Gopal Guru

4.         Prabhat Patnaik

5.         Neeladri Bhattacharya

6.         Zoya Hasan

7.         CP Chandrasekhar

8.         Chaman Lal

9.         Jayati Ghosh

10.       Tanika Sarkar

11.       Pushpesh Pant

12.       Anuradha Chenoy

13.       Kamal Mitra Chenoy

14.       Ranjani Mazumdar

15.       Nivedita Menon

16.       Ayesha Kidwai

17.       AK Ramakrishnan

18.       Valerian Rodrigues

19.       Bhagat Oinam

20.       Bimol Akoijam

21.       GJV Prasad

22.       Amitabh Mattoo

23.       BS Chimni

24.       Arun Kumar

25.       Janaki Nair

26.       Rohan D’Souza

27.       Mohan Rao

28.       Padmini Mongia

29.       Rajarshi Dasgupta

30.       Pratiksha Baxi

31.       Naman Ahuja

32.       Kavita Singh

33.       Shukla Sawant

34.       Ira Bhaskar

35.       Parul Dave Mukherjee

36.       G Arunima

37.       KB Usha

38.       Ajay Gudavarthy

39.       Anupama Roy

40.       Madhu Sahni

41.       Radhika Singha

42.       Geetha Nambissan

43.       Happymon Jacob

44.       Vikas Rawal

45.       Rinku Lamba

46.       YS Alone

47.       Bishnupriya Dutt

48.       Amita Singh

49.       Alka Acharya

50.       Rama Baru

52.       Sima Baidya

53.       Siddharth Mallavarapu

54.       Renuka Singh

55.       Rekha Kamat

56.       Alka Acharya

57.       Jayati Srivastava

  For further information contact:

1. Nivedita Menon,

Professor,

School of International Studies

Phone: 9971268730

  2. Ranjani Mazumdar,

Associate Professor,

School of Arts and Aesthetics

Phone: 9818089519


CC:

Registrar

Rector I

Rector II




-- 
Ranjani Mazumdar
Associate Professor
Cinema Studies
School of Arts and Aesthetics
Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi 110067
http://www.jnu.ac.in/SAA/