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Journalism of Courage
A day after nearly 10 students from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) were booked for allegedly commemorating the death anniversary of former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba, and allegedly raising slogans in support of former JNU students union leaders Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid–currently behind bars in the Delhi riots case–students said there was no sloganeering and that it was a short, humble and spontaneous gathering by just 15-20 students to remember a professor and it has been blown out of proportion.
Denying that there was any sloganeering, one of the students who was present at the event said, “The issue has been blown out of proportion. A sober, humble gathering in remembrance of a professor, who has been a subject of an unfair trial as has been noted by the Bombay High Court, and all the events that unfolded, is a reflection of the shrinking democratic spaces in elite higher educational institutions. And all these, given that there was no form of sloganeering, let alone being divisive.”
According to students, they did not seek any permission from the administration because it was ‘not a formal event by any particular group of students’ but a spontaneous gathering. The activity which included lighting candles in front of Prof Saibaba’s printed photo and reading of two poems – lasted less than ten minutes at the maximum and students dispersed immediately, a student said.
“The event happened in the presence of college guards, and had the guard asked us to stop, we would have cut short the eight-minute gathering even quicker. The guards allowed it to happen, and now they are trying to tamper with all that happened. Students are unnecessarily being targeted,” said another student adding that two of them have been called to the police station to record statements whereas others are currently away from campus.
A student said they are now worried over what will happen next. One of them said, “A lot of us haven’t had food or sleep in over 48 hours now. This has taken an immense toll on our physical, mental, emotional health. We have missed our classes and careers are at stake. The college administration is compromising on the future of us students to set a message.”
The students who were present for the gathering have alleged that the event took a violent turn after a group of charged-up students–which included members of Democratic Secular Students’ Forum (DSSF), a student group from TISS campus which is affiliated to Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)–came to the venue opposing the event and shouted slogans against them.
Refuting this, however, a member of DSSF told The Indian Express, “This is unnecessary targeting by some students who conducted an event without permission, despite strict regulations against it. The opposition appeared spontaneous, driven by growing discomfort and frustration among the student community over ongoing controversial activities on campus. Many students believe these activities have created a tense atmosphere and are discouraging companies from participating in campus placements.”
Meanwhile, the institute administration is currently in the process of drafting show-cause notices to be sent to all the students against whom the complaint had been filed.
“It is only after evaluating their responses that further course of action will be decided,” said an official.
A police officer said they are currently in the process of recording statements of the students following which the next course of action will be decided. On complaints by students that they had not been raising slogans, an official said, “The complaint was given by the administration and some students based on which the FIR was registered. We will ascertain facts of the case.”
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