JNU gets a touch of saffron

NEW DELHI, January 20: The first stirrings of saffron are being felt even in the hallowed precincts of the Jawaharlal Nehru University's tea...

NEW DELHI, January 20: The first stirrings of saffron are being felt even in the hallowed precincts of the Jawaharlal Nehru University’s teaching staff with four professors launching here an "Academics for Atal Behari" forum.

Devendra Kaushik, a professor of Russian studies; and Parimal Das, teaching South-East Asian studies; both avowed Left wing teachers once upon a time, have now decided that the party’s (read the BJP) time has come to save the country.

"Atal Behari Vajpayee is the best man under the circumstances to become the prime minister," said Das with the passion of a new convert, adding "this is dharmayuddha. India’s integrity is being questioned. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, the fabric of nationhood is being challenged."

Das admitted that he was once the secretary of none other than Jai Prakash Narayan, and insisted: "I’m sure JP would have advised me to do this." Added Kaushik, "I have been the recipient of the Soviet Land Nehru award for a book I once co-authored on Lenin and I remain an independent Marxist, but I’m also a patriot and must now act in a creative manner. That’s why I support Vajpayee and the BJP." But Kaushik was also clearly embarrassed when asked questions on the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi controversy as well as on the BJP’s treatment of minorities. "Let us leave that alone," he chided his colleagues.