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Delhi University, one of the top higher educational institutions of the country, has once again come into the center of controversies over violence and uproar on the campus. The incident of alleged pushing, abusing and assault on a respected professor in the university campus has shocked the entire academic world. Congress’s student organization ‘National Students Union of India’ (NSUI) has taken a very aggressive and strict stance on this sensitive issue. Questioning the university administration and Delhi Police, NSUI student leaders have bluntly said that a prestigious institution like Delhi University needs a ‘shop of love’ and independent ideological discussion, and not hooliganism and hatred that flourish under political patronage. After this incident, there is an atmosphere of tension in various departments of North Campus and South Campus and along with teachers’ organizations, common students have also mobilized regarding security.
The whole matter of misbehavior with a professor on campus: How did the controversy erupt?
According to information received, the dispute started during an academic program and student-administrative interaction, where some anti-social elements and members of the rival student group allegedly behaved violently with a department professor following a heated exchange. Eyewitnesses allege that some miscreants who forcibly infiltrated during the program used abusive language, threatened and tried to physically assault the teacher.
As soon as information about the incident was received, other professors and students of the department gathered at the spot, after which the accused fled from there. The aggrieved professor has lodged a formal written complaint in this regard with the University’s Proctorial Board and the local police station. This incident has once again raised a serious question that when even teachers are not safe in the largest central university of the country’s capital, then what will be the situation of safety of common students.
‘Shop of love’ vs politics of hatred: NSUI’s tough stance
The national and Delhi state leadership of NSUI registered a strong protest against this entire incident and demonstrated strongly outside the Arts Faculty and Administrative Block of the University. Senior NSUI officials said that the democratic environment of the campus is being continuously poisoned at the behest of those in power and right-wing forces.
Quoting Rahul Gandhi’s famous slogan, NSUI said that Delhi University is a confluence of dreams, diversity and knowledge of lakhs of youth coming from across the country. Every opinion should be respected in the university and disagreements should be responded to through dialogue and logic, not sticks or threats. The student organization alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to suppress the voices of enlightened teachers and students by creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in a planned manner on the campus. NSUI gave a clear warning that if an FIR is not immediately lodged against the accused students and outside miscreants and they are not expelled from the University, they will launch an indefinite ‘Chakka Jam’ and hunger strike in the entire University.
Teachers’ safety and DUTA’s displeasure: demand for investigation and action
Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) and various leftist and democratic teachers organizations have also expressed deep anger over this alleged incident of assault. Teachers unions say that such brutality against teachers in classrooms and departmental premises is not only condemnable but is a direct attack on the dignity of the entire teaching community.
DUTA officials have demanded the Vice Chancellor and Proctor to immediately constitute a high-level independent inquiry committee. Teachers say that the entry of outside elements into the campus has increased significantly in recent years and the security guards remain mute spectators. Teachers have demanded that intensive monitoring of CCTV cameras be increased in college and department campuses, strict ID card checking should be implemented at entry gates and teachers should be ensured the right to teach in a fear-free environment without any political pressure.
Student politics and increasing conflict in the university campus
Delhi University has a long and vibrant history of student politics, having produced many prominent politicians and policy-makers for the country. In recent times, incidents of confrontation and confrontation between various student organizations—particularly NSUI, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), AISA and SFI—have been on the rise over student union elections and ideological events.
Accusations and counter-accusations between rival groups often result in violent clashes. On several occasions, there have been reports of forced cancellation or uproar at educational events such as seminars, documentary screenings and book launches. Academics believe that the level of student politics moving away from ideological debate and issues of student welfare towards muscle power and personal attacks is a very worrying sign.
Students and faculty demand: fear-free environment and transparent investigation
Thousands of ordinary students studying normally in the university have also expressed deep disappointment over such incidents of violence. Students say that whenever such untoward incidents happen on campus, the classroom environment deteriorates, police deployment increases and there is huge loss of studies.
The Proctor’s Office of the University has issued a brief statement in this regard saying that based on the complaint received, an internal investigation has been initiated and CCTV footage is being scrutinized. The administration has appealed to all student organizations to maintain peace and not disturb the harmonious atmosphere of the campus. In the coming days, it will be important to see what legal action the police administration takes in the matter and what strict security measures the university takes to prevent such recurrence.