Freedom of speech and expression in JNU is under threat. There has been
an out-pour of support and solidarity from a large section of the
academic, intellectual and all other progressive sections of the
society, both nationally and internationally. We upload one such
statement of support for JNU by globally renowned academics and
intellectuals.
We
have learnt of the shameful act of the Indian government which, invoking
sedition laws formulated by India’s colonial rulers, ordered the police to
enter the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus and unlawfully arrest a student
leader, Mr. Kanhaiya Kumar, on charges of inciting violence —without any proof whatever of such wrongdoing on his part.
have learnt of the shameful act of the Indian government which, invoking
sedition laws formulated by India’s colonial rulers, ordered the police to
enter the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus and unlawfully arrest a student
leader, Mr. Kanhaiya Kumar, on charges of inciting violence —without any proof whatever of such wrongdoing on his part.
From
the reports of a large number of witnesses and the most highly respected
journalists in the country, these are the known facts that no impartial
observer denies: In a student meeting, acting well within the rights he possesses
by the law of the land, Mr. Kumar
spoke critically of the BJP government’s policies. On the previous day, at some
other event which he had no part in organizing and at which he did not speak, a
handful of other students, not even identifiable as students of the university,
were shouting slogans about the rights of Kashmiris to independence from Indian
military oppression over the last many decades. Mr. Kumar, whose speech (widely available on a
video) cannot in any way be connected with the slogans uttered on the previous
day, was nonetheless arrested for ‘anti-national’ behaviour and for violating
the sedition laws against the incitement to violence. Since there is no
evidence to establish these charges, we can only conclude that this arrest is
further evidence of the present government’s deeply authoritarian nature,
intolerant of any dissent, setting aside India’s longstanding commitment to
toleration and plurality of opinion, replicating the dark times of an
oppressive colonial period and briefly of the Emergency in the mid-1970s.
the reports of a large number of witnesses and the most highly respected
journalists in the country, these are the known facts that no impartial
observer denies: In a student meeting, acting well within the rights he possesses
by the law of the land, Mr. Kumar
spoke critically of the BJP government’s policies. On the previous day, at some
other event which he had no part in organizing and at which he did not speak, a
handful of other students, not even identifiable as students of the university,
were shouting slogans about the rights of Kashmiris to independence from Indian
military oppression over the last many decades. Mr. Kumar, whose speech (widely available on a
video) cannot in any way be connected with the slogans uttered on the previous
day, was nonetheless arrested for ‘anti-national’ behaviour and for violating
the sedition laws against the incitement to violence. Since there is no
evidence to establish these charges, we can only conclude that this arrest is
further evidence of the present government’s deeply authoritarian nature,
intolerant of any dissent, setting aside India’s longstanding commitment to
toleration and plurality of opinion, replicating the dark times of an
oppressive colonial period and briefly of the Emergency in the mid-1970s.
These
actions of the police have brought great dishonor to the government; and the
failure of the Vice-Chancellor to speak out against these actions and moreover
to allow the suspension of seven other students on charges that have not been
established by a fair and transparent inquiry, will bring great dishonor to the
most prominent university in the country in the eyes of the academy all over
the world.
actions of the police have brought great dishonor to the government; and the
failure of the Vice-Chancellor to speak out against these actions and moreover
to allow the suspension of seven other students on charges that have not been
established by a fair and transparent inquiry, will bring great dishonor to the
most prominent university in the country in the eyes of the academy all over
the world.
We,
the undersigned, take a stand of heartfelt solidarity with the students and
faculty of Jawaharlal Nehru University in their efforts to resist these
developments on its campus and, in the name of the liberties that India and
Indian universities until recently could take for granted, we not only condemn
the culture of authoritarian menace that the present government in India has
generated, but urge all those genuinely concerned about the future of India and
Indian universities to protest in wide mobilization against it.
the undersigned, take a stand of heartfelt solidarity with the students and
faculty of Jawaharlal Nehru University in their efforts to resist these
developments on its campus and, in the name of the liberties that India and
Indian universities until recently could take for granted, we not only condemn
the culture of authoritarian menace that the present government in India has
generated, but urge all those genuinely concerned about the future of India and
Indian universities to protest in wide mobilization against it.
Signed
by:
by:
1.Noam
Chomsky, Emeritus Professor of Linguistics and Philosophy, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, USA
Chomsky, Emeritus Professor of Linguistics and Philosophy, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, USA
2.
Orhan
Pamuk, Nobel Laureate, Turkey
Orhan
Pamuk, Nobel Laureate, Turkey
3.
Jonathan
Cole, Former Provost of Columbia University, USA
Jonathan
Cole, Former Provost of Columbia University, USA
4.
Judith
Butler, Professor of Linguistics, University of California, Berkeley
Judith
Butler, Professor of Linguistics, University of California, Berkeley
5.
Richard
N. Zare, Professor of Chemistry, Stanford University, USA
Richard
N. Zare, Professor of Chemistry, Stanford University, USA
6.
Robert
Wade, Professor of International Development, London School of Economics, UK
Robert
Wade, Professor of International Development, London School of Economics, UK
7.
Akeel
Bilgrami, Professor of Philosophy, Columbia University, USA
Akeel
Bilgrami, Professor of Philosophy, Columbia University, USA
8.
Dimitri
Papadimitriou, Director, Levy Institute, Bard College, USA
Dimitri
Papadimitriou, Director, Levy Institute, Bard College, USA
9.
Mriganka
Sur, Professor of Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
Mriganka
Sur, Professor of Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
10.
Jan
Breman, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Amsterdam University, The Netherlands,
Jan
Breman, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Amsterdam University, The Netherlands,
11.
Sanat
Kumar, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, USA
Sanat
Kumar, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, USA
12.
Sheldon
Pollock, Professor of Sanskrit, Columbia University, USA
Sheldon
Pollock, Professor of Sanskrit, Columbia University, USA
13.
Barbara
Harriss-White, Emerita Professor of Development Studies, Oxford University, UK
Barbara
Harriss-White, Emerita Professor of Development Studies, Oxford University, UK
14.
Partha
Chatterjee, Professor of Anthropology, Columbia University, USA.
Partha
Chatterjee, Professor of Anthropology, Columbia University, USA.
15.
N.
V. Ramana, Professor of Physics, Princeton University, USA
N.
V. Ramana, Professor of Physics, Princeton University, USA
16.
James
Galbraith, Professor of Economics, University of Texas at Austin, USA
James
Galbraith, Professor of Economics, University of Texas at Austin, USA
17.
Charles
Taylor, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, McGill University, Canada
Charles
Taylor, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, McGill University, Canada
18.
Servaas
Storm, Professor of Economics, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
Servaas
Storm, Professor of Economics, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
19.
Arjun
Appadurai, Professor of Media, Culture and Communication, New York University,
USA.
Arjun
Appadurai, Professor of Media, Culture and Communication, New York University,
USA.
20.
Alicia
Puyana Mutis, Professor of Economics, Flacso, Mexico.
Alicia
Puyana Mutis, Professor of Economics, Flacso, Mexico.
21.
Robert
Pollin, Professor of Economics, University of Amherst at Massachusetts, USA
Robert
Pollin, Professor of Economics, University of Amherst at Massachusetts, USA
22.
Juan
Carlos Moreno Brid, Professor of Economics, Universidad National de Mexico, USA
Juan
Carlos Moreno Brid, Professor of Economics, Universidad National de Mexico, USA
23.
Gerald
Epstein, Professor of Economics, University of Amherst at Massachusetts, USA
Gerald
Epstein, Professor of Economics, University of Amherst at Massachusetts, USA
24.
Pasuk
Phongpaichit, Emerita Professor, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok Thailand.
Pasuk
Phongpaichit, Emerita Professor, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok Thailand.
25.
Kanti
Rai, leading leukemia specialist, USA
Kanti
Rai, leading leukemia specialist, USA
26.
Gauri
Vishwanathan, Professor of English, Columbia University, USA
Gauri
Vishwanathan, Professor of English, Columbia University, USA
27.
Ha-Joon
Chang, University of Cambridge, UK
Ha-Joon
Chang, University of Cambridge, UK
28.
Jennie
Traschen, Professor of Physics, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, USA
Jennie
Traschen, Professor of Physics, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, USA
29.
David
Kastor, Associate Head of Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts at
Amherst, USA
David
Kastor, Associate Head of Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts at
Amherst, USA
30.
Ugo
Pagano, Professor of Economics, Università
degli Studi di Siena, Italy
Ugo
Pagano, Professor of Economics, Università
degli Studi di Siena, Italy
31.
Mira
Nair, Film Director
Mira
Nair, Film Director
32.
Ozlem
Onaran, Professor of Economics, University of Greenwich, UK
Ozlem
Onaran, Professor of Economics, University of Greenwich, UK
33.
Engelbert
Stockhammer, Professor of Economics, University of Bristol, UK
Engelbert
Stockhammer, Professor of Economics, University of Bristol, UK
34.
Gary
Dymski, Professor of Applied Economics, University of Leeds, UK
Gary
Dymski, Professor of Applied Economics, University of Leeds, UK
35.
Arjun
Jayadev, University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA.
Arjun
Jayadev, University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA.
36.
Elissa
Braunstein, Colorado State University, USA
Elissa
Braunstein, Colorado State University, USA
37.
Alicia
Giron, Universidad National de Mexico, USA
Alicia
Giron, Universidad National de Mexico, USA
38.
Daniele
Tori, University of Greenwich, UK
Daniele
Tori, University of Greenwich, UK
39.
Pablo
Bortz, Universirty of San Martin, Beunos Aires, Argentina
Pablo
Bortz, Universirty of San Martin, Beunos Aires, Argentina
40.
Daniela
Gabor, UWE Bristol, UK
Daniela
Gabor, UWE Bristol, UK
41.
Annina
Kaltenbrunner, University of Leeds, UK
Annina
Kaltenbrunner, University of Leeds, UK
42.
J.George Waardenburg, Emeritus professor in
development economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
J.George Waardenburg, Emeritus professor in
development economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
43. Fernando J.
Cardim de Carvalho, Emeritus Professor, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Cardim de Carvalho, Emeritus Professor, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
44. Mario
Tonveronachi, Università degli Studi di Siena, Italy
Tonveronachi, Università degli Studi di Siena, Italy
45.
Jan
Kregel, Director of Research, Levy Institute, Bard College, USA
Jan
Kregel, Director of Research, Levy Institute, Bard College, USA
46.
Thomas
Ferguson, University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA
Thomas
Ferguson, University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA
47.
Malcolm
Sawyer, Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Leeds, UK
Malcolm
Sawyer, Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Leeds, UK
48.
Thea
Harvey-Barratt, Levy Institute, Bard College, USA
Thea
Harvey-Barratt, Levy Institute, Bard College, USA
49.
Amrita
Chhachhi, International Institute of Social Studies, The Hague Netherlands
Amrita
Chhachhi, International Institute of Social Studies, The Hague Netherlands
50.
Noemi
Levy, Universidad National de Mexico, USA
Noemi
Levy, Universidad National de Mexico, USA
51.
Ilhan
Dogus, University of Hamburg, Germany
Ilhan
Dogus, University of Hamburg, Germany
52.
Edward
Fullbrook, Executive Director, World Economics Association
Edward
Fullbrook, Executive Director, World Economics Association
53.
Brendan
Burchell, University of Cambridge, UK
Brendan
Burchell, University of Cambridge, UK
54.
Vamsi
Vakulabharanam, Professor of Economics, University of Amherst at Massachusetts,
USA
Vamsi
Vakulabharanam, Professor of Economics, University of Amherst at Massachusetts,
USA
55.
Sripad
Motiram, University of Massachusetts at Bosto, USA
Sripad
Motiram, University of Massachusetts at Bosto, USA
56.
Stefano
Zambelli, Universita di Trento, Italy
Stefano
Zambelli, Universita di Trento, Italy
57.
Andrew
B. Tylecote, Emeritus Professor, University of Sheffield, UK
Andrew
B. Tylecote, Emeritus Professor, University of Sheffield, UK
58.
Jing
Cai, University of Aberdeen, Scotland
Jing
Cai, University of Aberdeen, Scotland
59.
Julian
Wells, Kingston University, UK
Julian
Wells, Kingston University, UK
60.
Mehmet
Kerem Coban, Lee Kuan Yew Institute of Public Policy, National University of
Singapore
Mehmet
Kerem Coban, Lee Kuan Yew Institute of Public Policy, National University of
Singapore
61.
Andres
Lazzarini, University of San Martin, Argentina
Andres
Lazzarini, University of San Martin, Argentina
62.
Radha
Upadhyaya, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Radha
Upadhyaya, University of Nairobi, Kenya
63.
Riccardo
Bellofiors, Universita di Bergamo, Italy
Riccardo
Bellofiors, Universita di Bergamo, Italy
64.
Carolina
Alves, University of London
Carolina
Alves, University of London
65.
Pritam
Singh, Oxford Brookes University, UK
Pritam
Singh, Oxford Brookes University, UK
66.
Stephanie
Seguino, University of Vermont, USA
Stephanie
Seguino, University of Vermont, USA
67.
Nicolas
Pons-Vignon, EHSS, Paris
Nicolas
Pons-Vignon, EHSS, Paris
68.
Sergio
Cesarotto, Universita di Siena, Italy
Sergio
Cesarotto, Universita di Siena, Italy
69.
Tomas
Rotta, University of Greenwich, UK
Tomas
Rotta, University of Greenwich, UK
70. Robin
Blackburn, Cullman Fellow, New York Public Library
Blackburn, Cullman Fellow, New York Public Library
71. David
Freedberg, Director, Warburg Institute, University of London
Freedberg, Director, Warburg Institute, University of London
72.
Mario
Seccareccia, University of Ottowa, Canada
Mario
Seccareccia, University of Ottowa, Canada
73.
Jens
Lerche, University of London, UK
Jens
Lerche, University of London, UK
74.
Kevin
Gallagher, Boston University, USA
Kevin
Gallagher, Boston University, USA
75.
Maria
Cristina Marcuzzo, Università di
Roma “La Sapienza”, Italy
Maria
Cristina Marcuzzo, Università di
Roma “La Sapienza”, Italy
76.
Pascal Petit, University of Sorbonne, Paris
France
Pascal Petit, University of Sorbonne, Paris
France
77.
Deepankar Basu, University of Massachusetts,
Amherst, USA.
Deepankar Basu, University of Massachusetts,
Amherst, USA.
78.
María Cecilia Ainciburu, Università degli Studi
di Siena, Italy
María Cecilia Ainciburu, Università degli Studi
di Siena, Italy
79.
Eugenia Correa, Universidad Nacional de Mexico,
Mexico City
Eugenia Correa, Universidad Nacional de Mexico,
Mexico City
80.
Wendy
Olsen, Professor of Socio-Economics, University of Manchester, UK
Wendy
Olsen, Professor of Socio-Economics, University of Manchester, UK
81.
Radhika
Balakrishnan, Rutgers University, USA
Radhika
Balakrishnan, Rutgers University, USA
82.
Eduardo
Strachman, Sao Paulo State University, Brazil
Eduardo
Strachman, Sao Paulo State University, Brazil
83.
Wesley Colin Marshall, Universidad
Autónoma Metropolitana, Iztapalapa, Mexico
Wesley Colin Marshall, Universidad
Autónoma Metropolitana, Iztapalapa, Mexico
84.
Trevor Evans, Berlin School of Economics and
Law, Germany
85.
Terrence McDonough, National
University of Ireland, Galwa
Terrence McDonough, National
University of Ireland, Galwa
86.
Rod O’Donnell,
University of Sydney, Australia
Rod O’Donnell,
University of Sydney, Australia
