IIT-Bombay cancels talk by former DU prof on Israel-Palestine conflict

Professor Vanaik, on November 1, had delivered a speech at a private university in North India, on 'History and Politics of Palestinian Present', which had led to a controversy, after it was alleged that Professor Vanaik made anti-Hindu remarks.

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In late September, an email sent out by mess council of hostel 12, 13 and 14 of IIT Bombay, which informed students about designated veg-only space in their combined mess, had sparked a major controversy. (File)

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The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has cancelled Professor’s Achin Vanaik’s proposed talk on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The lecture was initially scheduled to be held Monday evening, but IIT authorities said it was being postponed to Tuesday. However, on Tuesday, students received an email from the Department of Humanities and Social Science that the event was cancelled.

Vanaik during his talk was expected to throw light on the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict and repercussions of the recent outbreak of violence.

A group of students from the institute had however opposed the talk, and requested IIT Bom-bay authorities via email to cancel the talk by Vanaik who is a retired Delhi University professor of international relations. The email also asked the IIT to set up strict policies that would “bar the occurrence of such events in future.”

Professor Vanaik, on November 1, had delivered a speech at a private university in North India, on ‘History and Politics of Palestinian Present’, which had led to a controversy, after it was alleged that Professor Vanaik made anti-Hindu remarks.

The professor had reportedly clarified that video clips of his lecture were taken out of context.

Expressing his disappointment, he said, “It is a very important issue and a tragedy of our time. It is disturbing that IIT Bombay cancelled the talk upon students’ demand. My views presented in the earlier talk seem to have been distorted.”

Pallavi Smart

Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting. Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive: Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses). Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers. Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis). Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students. Credentials & Trustworthiness Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized. Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families. She tweets @Pallavi_Smart ... Read More

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Israel-Palestine conflict