JNU faculty stands with Umar, Anirban — ‘They are responsible, sincere students, focused on academics’

“They are both very capable and sincere students. Their supervisors admire the way they helped their peer group during group research discussions, and how concerned and caring they have been in their interactions with other students. We are concerned for their security…,” it adds.

According to the statement, Umar is doing his PhD on the “territorial, agrarian and ecological re-organisation of the region of Singhbhum in the colonial period and on various adivasi movements amongst the Hos”, while Anirban’s research focuses on the “making of the tea plantations in the Duar region”, with particular emphasis on the theme of labour.

Apart from those at JNU, teachers from their graduation days are also shocked by the way they have been portrayed.

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“I remember Umar as a voracious reader and a good debater. He put forward his views strongly but was never dismissive of alternate views. In fact, some of his best friends were those who held opposite views on matters of nationalism, communalism and the caste system,” said Associate Professor Sanjay Verma of Kirori Mal College’s History department.

He added that Umar always had Left-leaning views although he himself may not have realised that at the time.

Associate Professor Vandana Chaudhary also remembers Umar as a “polite” person. “He was always trying to question things. I don’t remember him being involved in active politics during his graduation but he was part of the debating club. It’s sad to see him being branded this way. Universities should provide space for students to speak their mind,” she said.

Anirban’s teachers from college too remember him as a “quiet student” — someone who never spoke much about his views. “He was quiet, and a reasonably good student going by St Stephen’s standards. There were students who spoke up in class much more than he did. There was nothing to indicate the extent of his radicalism as is being projected now,” said Rohit Wanchoo, head of the History department at St Stephen’s College.

Even JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar’s PhD guide, S N Malakar, has come out in his support. “Kanhaiya makes me proud. He always speaks against neo-liberalism, inequality and Brahmanism, but there is not an inch of anti-nationalism in it anywhere. You cannot evaluate his personality just by evaluating his politics,” he said.