JNU’s culture under threat: 400 global academicians to VC


Team Udayavani, Feb 24, 2017, 5:59 PM IST

New Delhi: Over 400 academicians from international varsities, including Harvard, Cambridge, London School of Economics, Yale and New York University, have written to JNU Vice Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar voicing concerns over recent events unfolding at the university.

The scholars from across the globe have signed an open letter to Kumar saying the “academic culture and context that has formed basis of cooperation with international institutions is under serious threat”.

“We are deeply concerned and shocked at the events unfolding on your campus and we urge the responsible authorities to act decisively to protect the future of JNU as an internationally renowned university of academic excellence, which has produced generations of excellent researchers, scholars and other professionals,” the letter said.

The letter said it was “shocking” that the university, known for its academic freedom and autonomy that fosters debate, discussion and dissent, was now being “wilfully destroyed”.

JNU has been hogging a negative limelight for over an year after its students were arrested in a sedition case last February in connection with an event during which “anti-national” slogans were allegedly raised.

Since then, the students union and the teachers association have been at loggerheads with the administration over denial of permission to protest on campus, disappearance of a student after a brawl, deduction of salaries of teachers’ raising voice and show-cause notices issued to them, and the latest confrontation on amendments in the admission policy leading to massive seat cuts in MPhil and PhD courses.

“We also feel that such an attack on public education in universities like JNU disables opportunities for the historically marginalised communities of India. It is essential that an enabling admission policy, like the one in place in JNU must be retained, other than abiding by the constitutionally mandated policies for affirmative action,” the letter said.

“Now, however, the academic culture and context that has formed the very basis of our cooperation with JNU is under serious threat, we request you to restore the institutional autonomy and provide assurance to the international community that JNU will maintain its commitment to an academic and intellectual, vision of a university that champions academic freedoms, teaching and research, keeping social and gender justice, and civil liberties intact,” it added.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Kannada Sahitya Sammelana: Food distribution creates stir

Rohit gets hit in nets, practice pitches on slower side

India & Kuwait elevate ties to strategic level; ink defence pact after PM Modi meets top Kuwaiti leaders

In Kuwait, PM Modi meets yoga practitioner, other influencers from Gulf country

Notorious gangster wanted in UAPA case arrested at Nepal border

Mandhana, Renuka blow away West Indies in first ODI

‘Condition critical’, say doctors as farmer leader Dallewal’s fast enters 27th day

Related Articles More

Notorious gangster wanted in UAPA case arrested at Nepal border

‘Condition critical’, say doctors as farmer leader Dallewal’s fast enters 27th day

ISRO to study how crops grow in space on PSLV-C60 mission

Vandalism at Allu Arjun’s residence in Hyderabad

PM Modi to attend Christmas celebrations hosted by Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India

MUST WATCH

Tulunadu Daivaradane

Feeding Birds with Creative Paddy Art!

Areca Nut

HOTEL SRI DURGA BHAVANA

Harish Poonja


Latest Additions

Kannada Sahitya Sammelana: Food distribution creates stir

Rohit gets hit in nets, practice pitches on slower side

India & Kuwait elevate ties to strategic level; ink defence pact after PM Modi meets top Kuwaiti leaders

In Kuwait, PM Modi meets yoga practitioner, other influencers from Gulf country

Notorious gangster wanted in UAPA case arrested at Nepal border

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.