Fwd: Suspension of our Marxist friend and comrade, Ravi Kumar. Please sign the Appeal. Thanks
Rich Gibson
-------- Forwarded Message --------
To all members of the JCEPS Editorial Advisory
Board/ Reviewers' Panel
I have
received this APPEAL
re the investigation and suspension of Ravi Kumar from South
Asian University. Among other items, he has been accused of
setting up a Marxist Study Circle (!!!)
This suspension is part of a well-publicised pattern of repression, crackdown on dissent, under Modi's government in India. Here is the Appeal letter below... Please sign the Appeal below, the googledoc
Many thanks
Solidarity!
Dave
I am writing to you to bring to your notice an incident of grave injustice at the South Asian University, New Delhi and to request for your support for an appeal.
On June 16, 2023, four faculty members of the South Asian University (SAU), New Delhi, were suspended by the university administration for expressing their concerns about the inhumane treatment and arbitrary punitive actions of the administration against students. The faculty members are: Dr Snehashish Bhattacharya, Faculty of Economics; Dr Srinivas Burra, Faculty of Legal Studies; Dr Irfanullah Farooqi, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Science; and Dr Ravi Kumar, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Science.
The professors were questioning the compassionless manner with which the SAU administration dealt with the students who were (a) protesting a decrease in their monthly stipend last year and (b) asking for fair representation in sexual harassment and gender sensitization committees. The administration, rather, called in police to disperse students exercising their democratic right to protest. The suspended professors had registered their concerns about calling police to the campus to intervene against students and regarding the retributive measures taken by the administrators against the protesting students. The professors were urging the university to take a constructive approach to addressing the students' concerns and resolving conflicts. The censuring actions taken against the professors stand in conflict with the traditions of openness, dialogue and mutuality that are the hallmarks of Indian education system. They also stand in conflict with a faculty's obligations to speak on students' behalf and ensure a safe and supportive learning environment that promotes the well-being and educational development of students.
We intend to appeal to the concerned ministries of SAARC nations that are a member of the South Asian University’s governing structure to look into the matter and address this injustice. We hope that you will sign the attached statement of appeal in support of these academics. Please find the link for signing the appeal here: