1 week ago

Teachers Say Repeated Jadavpur University Attacks Reflect Ideological Poverty

Teachers Say Repeated Jadavpur University Attacks Reflect Ideological Poverty
Repeated attacks on JU expose ABVP's 'poverty of imagination and ideology': Teachers · telegraphindia.com

Teachers at Jadavpur University said recent violence on campus was carefully organized.

They blamed the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, or ABVP, for the attacks.

The teachers said people entered the campus at night, including outsiders.

They also said gates were damaged and fires were used to frighten students.

In their view, the goal was to stop students from criticizing powerful people.

They argued that disagreements at a university should be settled through discussion and reasoning.

The university emblem made by artist Nandalal Bose was also damaged.

University officials were working to repair and reinstall it.

Key facts

Institution
Jadavpur University
Group accused by teachers
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Nature of violence
Teachers described it as planned and politically influenced rather than an ordinary student altercation.
Damaged site
The university emblem designed by Nandalal Bose was damaged during an ABVP rally.
Additional alleged intimidation
Teachers said attackers torched items in the portico of Aurobindo Bhavan while students were inside.
Repair status
Repair and reinstallation of the emblem were underway in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor and senior officials.
Reported political influence
A former professor said he heard that a local MLA incited people around midnight, but the article did not identify the MLA.

Quotes

Abhijit Gupta

Professor of English at Jadavpur University

“Students often squabble on campus. It happens all the time. It appears that, this time, a fight among students was accentuated and amplified because of political interference.”
telegraphindia.com
“The battle for the hearts and minds of students should be won through reason and informed debate, not thuggery.”
telegraphindia.com

Sources

Related news