Don’t involve us in vote fight, JU tells PM

Kolkata: Jadavpur University students, teachers and alumni said that the university should not be dragged into electoral politics following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech on Friday associating "anarchy" with JU and its students.

"The entire nation used to take the name of Jadavpur University with pride. Its foundation was based on nationalistic principles. Look at the situation now. Threats are being issued on the campus, anti-national slogans are being written on the walls and students are seen protesting on the streets instead of studying," Modi said during an election rally at Jadavpur. "We want an academic environment, not anarchy. We want dialogue, not threats..."



Comparative literature professor Sujit Kumar Mandal said, "It is better not to mix an institution with electoral politics. Especially an institution that is reputed to be one of the best, not just in the state but in the country and even beyond. Politicians may have their concerns, but bringing it (the institution) into the centre of politics and politicising it is not something we, as current stakeholders of the university, appreciate. We protest against the kind of baseless allegations made against our institution and its students. We do not agree with them being called anti-nationals."

Research scholar Fazle Wakil said that "targeting an educational institution, like Jadavpur University, is very unfortunate and disappointing." "The institution that has been built on national movements will surely have the ethos to protest and dissent against any kinds of authority. Any govt trying to suppress the dissent of student voices is the sign of a dictatorial mindset," Wakil added.

Former JU vice chancellor, also professor of electronics and telecommunication, Bhaskar Gupta said, "Nation and State are two completely different things. When the State goes against its people and stands in opposition to them, it becomes every citizen's duty to protest. JU has a tradition of dissent and to protest and we are proud of that. Moreover, it is objectionable to drag a university of repute into electoral politics." Gupta is also a JU alumnus.

Jadavpur University Puratani, a platform of former students, issued a statement in protest saying, "Our institution carries the legacy of alternative thinking against British imperialism. It has repeatedly stood on the side of justice and truth. The core philosophy of the university is liberal and open-mindedness. This philosophy has been repeatedly attacked by successive govts... It remains committed to its ideals and innovation. The university stands against communalism, inspired by the ideals of figures like Arabinda Ghosh, Satish Chandra Mukherjee, Rabindranath Tagore and Abdullah Rasul."

PG student Anushna Das said, "The university has been the best state university in NIRF ranking. In the QS rankings, JU performed well. So, I want to ask our PM that if students are always protesting, then how can an academic institution perform so well." Another engineering student Sabyasachi Sen said, "When PM attacks Jadavpur University, I feel proud as a student. Jadavpur is on the right path. The university has taught us to critically think, question and dissent."
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