Academics And Scholars Protest Against Assault On Academic And Constitutional Freedom

Press Release

27 October, 2015
Countercurrents.org

We, as social scientists, scholars, teachers and concerned citizens, feel extremely concerned about the lynching at Dadri, and the murders of scholars and thinkers like MM Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and others, and wish to register our strong protest.

We are not just shocked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late response, but also by the implications of the victim-blaming statement he made. To say that ‘Hindus and Muslims should not fight each other but should fight poverty instead’ puts the onus for peace and fighting poverty entirely on civil society and communities and absolves the state of any responsibility for both. As Prime Minister, he should have asserted that the state would defend the rule of law.

In a country with some 4693 communities and over 415 living languages, each community is bound to have its own customs, including dietary choices. Individuals may also follow practices different from the ones followed by the majority of their community. Any attempt to impose a uniform belief or practice, on either individuals or communities, is antithetical to the freedom enshrined in the Constitution. It is the state’s responsibility to ensure this freedom.

Further, as scholars, we are extremely worried about the implications of these recent developments for our ability to study and write about different life ways, and to critically analyse society, including social phenomena like religion.

1. Achin Vanaik (Retd.) University of Delhi
2. Aditya Mukherjee, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
3. Aditya Sarkar, Warwick University
4. Ajay Dandekar, Shiv Nadar University
5. Ajit Menon, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai
6. Albeena Shakil, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla
7. Alito Siquira, University of Goa
8. Amar Farooqui, University of Delhi, Delhi
9. Amar Jesani, Researcher/teacher, Pubic health and Bioethics, Mumbai
10. Amit Bhaduri, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
11. Amita Baviskar, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi
12. Amman Madan, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
13. Amrita Pande, University of Cape Town
14. Anand Chakravarti, (Retd.), Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
15. Anand K. Sahay, Columnist, New Delhi
16. Anjali Bhatia, University of Delhi
17. Ankur Datta, South Asian University
18. Annapurna Shaw, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
19. Anuj Bhuwania, South Asian University, New Delhi
20. Anuja Agrawal, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
21. Anup Sinha, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
22. Anurekha Chari Wagh, University of Pune
23. Aparna Basu, (Retd.) University of Delhi
24. Aparna Rayaprol, University of Hyderabad
25. Aparna Sundar,Azim Premji University, Bangalore
26. Aparna Vaidik, Ashoka University, Kundli, Haryana
27. Archana Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
28. Archana Sahare, JDB Govt. Girls’ College, Kota (Rajasthan)
29. Arif Waqif, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad
30. Arima Misra, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
31. Arindam Banerjee, Ambedkar University Delhi
32. Arjun Dev (Retd)Professor of History, NCERT
33. Arun Kumar, Retd. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
34. Arupjyoti Saikia, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati
35. Atulan Guha, IIM Kashipur
36. Babu P. Remesh, IGNOU, New Delhi
37. Badri Narayan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
38. Balmurli Natarajan, William Paterson University, USA
39. Balveer Arora, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi
40. Bhupinder Yadav, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
41. Birinder Pal Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala
42. C T Kurien, formerly of Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai.
43. C. Lakshmanan, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai
44. Carol Upadhya, National Institute of Advanced Study, Bangalore
45. Chandan Gowda, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
46. Chandra Chari, The Book Review, New Delhi
47. Chayanika Shah, Somaiya College of Science and Commerce, Mumbai
48. Chirashree Das Gupta, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
49. Chitra Joshi, Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi
50. D N Dhanagare, former National Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla
51. D. R. Sahu, University of Lucknow
52. D.Nrasimha Reddy, Rtd. University of Hyderabad.
53. Debarshi Das, IIT Guwahati
54. Debashis Ghoshal, School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
55. Debashish Bhattacherjee, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
56. Deepak Kumar, Punjabi University, Patiala
57. Deepak Mehta, University of Delhi
58. Dia Da Costa, University of Alberta, Canada
59. Dilip M Menon, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
60. Dinesh Abrol, ISID, New Delhi
61. Divya Vaid, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
62. Dr. S.V. Nadkarni, Ex. Dean L.T.M. Med. College, Mumbai,
63. Dulali Nag, Indian Institute for Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata
64. Farhana Ibrahim, Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi
65. G. Srinivas, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
66. Gayatri Menon, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
67. Geet Lamba, Government College, Moonak, Punjab
68. Geeta Kapur, Art Critic, New Delhi
69. Geetha Nambissan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
70. Girish Mishra, Author, Columnist and Teacher, New Delhi
71. Gita Chadha, University of Mumbai
72. Gopalji Pradhan, Ambedkar University Delhi
73. Gopesh Talukdar, IISWBM, Kolkata
74. Gyan Pandey, Emory University, USA
75. Harbans Mukhia, (Retd ), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
76. Harinder Kaur, Punjabi University, Patiala
77. Hira Singh, York University, Canada
78. Imtiaz Ahmad, (Retd) Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
79. Indira Chandrasekhar, Publisher, Tulika Books, New Delhi
80. Indra Munshi, (Retd.) University of Mumbai
81. Indrapramit Roy, Artist, Baroda.
82. Jaiwanti Dimri, H.P. University, Shimla
83. Janaki Abraham, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
84. Jasmeen Kaur, Punjabi University, Patiala
85. Jesim Pais, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, New Delhi
86. Johannes Manjrekar, M.S. University of Baroda
87. John Paul, Pondicherry University
88. Jyothsna Belliappa, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
89. Kalpana Kannabiran, Centre for Social Development, Hyderabad
90. Kamala Ganesh,( Retd.) University of Mumbai
91. Kamei Aphun, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
92. Kushal Deb, IIT Bombay
93. Lakshmi Subramaniam, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata
94. Leena Abraham, TISS, Mumbai.
95. Madhumati Dutta, IIESTS, Howrah (WB)
96. Madhura Swaminathan, Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore
97. Mahesh Sarma, Independent Researcher, New Delhi
98. Mahuya Bandyopadhyay, University of Delhi
99. Maitrayee Chaudhary, Jawaharlal Nehru University
100. Mani Inderpal Singh, University College, Miranpur (Distt. Patiala)
101. Manish Jain, Ambedkar University Delhi
102. Manisha Sethi, Jamia Millia Islamia
103. Manjeet Singh, Government College, Jind, Haryana
104. Manoranjan Mohanty, (Retd) University of Delhi
105. Manpreet Kaur, Lovely University, Jalandhar, Punjab
106. Mariam Dossal, (Retd.) University of Mumbai
107. Mary E. John, Centre for Women's Development studies, New Delhi
108. Maya Rao, Shiv Nadar University, Uttar Pradesh
109. Meena Gopal, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
110. Meena Radhakrishna, formerly of Delhi School of Economics,University of Delhi
111. Meher Engineer, independent scientist, Kolkata
112. Mohan Rao, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
113. Mridula Mukherjee, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
114. Mritiunjoy Mohanty, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
115. Mushirul Hasan, former Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
116. Nalini Nayak, PGDAV (M) College, Delhi University
117. Namrata Vadhera, Punjabi University, Patiala
118. Nandini Manjrekar, TISS , Mumbai
119. Nandini Sundar, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
120. Narendra Panjwani, formerly at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai
121. Narinder Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala
122. Nasir Tyabji, formerly of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

123. Nasreen Fazalbhoy, (Retd) University of Mumbai.
124. Navdeep Mathur, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
125. Nayanika Mathur, University of Cambridge
126. Neeladri Bhattacharya, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
127. Neera Chandhoke, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
128. Neetha N., Centre for Women’s Development Studies, New Delhi
129. Neshat Quaiser, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
130. Nilika Mehrotra, Jawaharlal Nehru University
131. Nirmal Sengupta, Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla
132. Nissim Mannathukkaren, Jawaharlal Nehru University
133. Padma Prakash, Director, esocialsciences
134. Padma Velaskar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
135. Parimal Ghosh, (Retd.) University of Calcutta.
136. Partho Datta, Zakir Husain Delhi Evening College, University of Delhi
137. Parveen Jha, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
138. Patricia Uberoi, (Retd.) Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi
139. Pratiksha Baxi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
140. Pratyush, Sarwahara newspaper, Delhi
141. Praveen Jha, Jawharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
142. Probal Dasgupta, Linguistic Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata
143. Pulin Nayak, (Retd) Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
144. Purendra Prasad, University of Hyderabad
145. R Nagaraj, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai.
146. R. Siva Prasad, Central University, Hyderabad
147. Rachna Dhingra Coordinator International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
148. Radhika Chopra, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
149. Radhika Gupta, Max Planck Institute, Göttingen
150. Radhika Mongia, York University, Canada
151. Radhika Singha, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
152. Rajan Barrett, MS University of Baroda
153. Rajat Datta, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
154. Rajesh Kamble, University of Mumbai
155. Rajni Palriwala, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
156. Raka Ray, University of California at Berkeley, USA
157. Rama Baru, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
158. Ranabir Chakravarti, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
159. Rashmi Doraiswamy, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
160. Ratna Raman, Sri Venkateshwara College, University of Delhi
161. Ravi Duggal, Public Health Researcher, Anusandhan Trust, Mumbai
162. Ravi Kumar, South Asian University, New Delhi
163. Ravi Shukla, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
164. Ravi Sundaram, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies
165. Ravinder Kaur, Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi
166. Ravinder Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala
167. Reema Bhatia, University of Delhi
168. Rekha Basu, University of Delhi,
169. Renny Thomas, University of Delhi
170. Riddhi Shah, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
171. Rita Brara, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
172. Ritajyoti Bandyopadhyay, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta
173. Ritu Dewan, formerly at University of Mumbai
174. Roma Chatterji, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
175. Romila Thapar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
176. Ruchi Chaturvedi, University of Cape Town
177. Rudolf Heredia, Independent Researcher, Mumbai
178. Rukmini Sen, Ambedkar University Delhi
179. S.B. Upadhyay, IGNOU, New Delhi
180. Sadhana Natu, Department of Psychology, Modern College, Pune University
181. Sajal Lahiri, Southern Illinois University, USA
182. Sajni Mukherji, Jadavpur University, West Bengal
183. Sakshi Khurana, V. V. Giri National Labour Institute
184. Sanjay Srivastava, Institute of Economic Growth
185. Sasheej Hegde, University of Hyderabad
186. Satendra Kumar, Lucknow
187. Satinath Sarangi Member Bhopal Group for Information & Action, Bhopal
188. Satish Deshpande, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
189. Savyasaachi, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
190. Shail Mayaram, CSDS, Delhi
191. Shalini Grover, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi
192. Shamsul Islam, Author/Dramatist, formerly of University of Delhi
193. Sharada Srinivasan, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
194. Sheena Jain, formerly at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
195. Shilpa Phadke, Tata Institute of Social Sciences- Mumbai
196. Shivaji Panikkar, Ambedkar University Delhi
197. Shivali Tukdeo, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore
198. Shruti Tambe, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune
199. Soumyen Sikdar, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
200. Sreekala.E, Pondicherry University
201. Sreemati Chakrabarti, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Delhi
202. Sripad Motiram, University of Massachusetts, USA
203. Subir Rana, National Institute Of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru
204. Sucheta Mahahan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
205. Sudha Vasan, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
206. Sujata Patel, University of Hyderabad
207. Sumanta Banerjee, Independent researcher, Hyderabad
208. Sumit Sarkar, (Retd) University of Delhi
209. Suneet Chopra, Art Critic and Writer, New Delhi
210. Superna Jindal, Punjabi University, Patiala
211. Surajit Mazumdar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
212. Surinder S. Jodhka, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
213. Susan Visvanathan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
214. Sushil Khanna, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
215. Svati Shah, University of Massachusetts, USA
216. Syed Ali Nadeem Rezavi, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
217. Tapati Talukdar, formerly at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata
218. T. N. Madan, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi
219. Tanika Sarkar, (Retd) Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
220. Tanweer Fazal, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
221. Tapan Basu, University of Delhi
222. Tejaswini Niranjana, TISS, Mumbai
223. Tejinder Pal Singh, University College, Miranpur (Distt. Patiala)
224. Tina Chakravarty, Sophia College, Mumbai.
225. Tiplut Nongbri, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
226. Tulsi Patel, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
227. Ujjwala Mhatre, Researcher and Writer, Mumbai
228. Uma Iyengar, The Book Review , New Delhi
229. Uma Das Gupta, Independent scholar, Kolkata.
230. Urfat Anjem Mir, Ambedkar University Delhi
231. Utsa Patnaik, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
232. V. Sujatha, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
233. Valerian Rodrigues, National Fellow - ICSSR, Mangalore
234. Vasavi, A. R., Bangalore
235. Vasundhara Bhojvaid, University of Delhi
236. Veena Naregal, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi
237. Venkatesh Athreya, formerly of Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli (TN)
238. Vidhu Verma, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
239. Vijay Prashad, Chief Editor, LeftWord Books
240. Vikas Maniar, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
241. Vincent Ekka, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
242. Vinita Bhatia, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai
243. Vinod Vyasulu, Formerly at Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore
244. Virginius Xaxa, Tata Institute of Social Sciences– Guwahati
245. Vivan Sundaram, Artist, New Delhi
246. Walter Fernandes, North Eastern Social Research Centre, Guwahati
247. Xonzoi Barbora, Tata Institute of Social Sciences- Guwahati
248. Yasmeen Arif, University of Delhi
249. Yasmeen Lukmani, (Retd.) University of Mumbai
250. Zoya Hasan, National Fellow, ICSSR.