The Hindu : National : Romila Thapar seeks Kalam's intervention in Vadodara issue

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Wednesday, May 16, 2007
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Romila Thapar seeks Kalam's intervention in Vadodara issue

New Delhi: Prof. Romila Thapar, Emeritus Professor of History, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and Prof. Deepak Nayyar, Professor of Economics, JNU, New Delhi, and former Vice-Chancellor, Delhi University, have written to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam expressing concern over the recent incidents at the Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara and urged his intervention. The letter said:

"This letter comes to you as a reflection of our concern and that of many other persons of the academic community, over the recent incidents at the M.S. University in Vadodara.

"We regard both the incident as well as the Vice-Chancellor's action on it, unacceptable to the functioning of a University. No action has been taken against the known members of the public who entered the Faculty of Arts of the M.S. University, unlawfully destroyed the work of a student and organised his arrest on the absurd grounds that his work offended this particular group of people. What is equally appalling is that when the Dean attempted to get the student released from police custody, the Vice-Chancellor suspended the Dean.

"There is no way in which either of these actions can be justified. On the contrary, such actions become precedents and are thereby conducive to the destruction of the university as an institute of learning and of academic freedom.

"We are addressing this letter to you both as the President of the country and in your capacity as Visitor to various premier universities. We would, therefore, request you to intervene in this matter, if necessary through the Governor, and insist upon an immediate legal reading of both actions, to examine whether they are admissible in terms of the statutes by which a university is governed. If not, we would request you to direct remedial action."

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