Eighteen former teachers of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) have come out in support of the ‘satyagraha’ launched by the JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) and the students, and said that they are “dismayed by the turn of events in the university since the present Vice-Chancellor assumed office”.
‘Democratic ethos’
They said the strength of JNU since its inception has been its democratic ethos marked by mutual respect and cooperation between its three main constituents — the students, the faculty and the administration.
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Friction that arose occasionally, they said, was settled through collective intervention within this democratic ethos. However, the present V-C has been seeking to replace this ethos by one where unilateral decisions taken by him are to be obeyed by others, the former JNU teachers said. They urged the Visitor of the university, the President, to prevent the V-C from following a course which will only destroy this institution.