DUTA Condemns assault on Law Faculty teacher
The DUTA strongly condemns the assault by a student on a Law Faculty teacher who had reportedly raised some questions on the veracity of a WhatsApp video, allegedly containing representations of the Pulwama Terror attack, shown to him by the student. The student’s “justification” for the assault, that the teacher’s questions hurt his nationalist sentiment, is completely unacceptable. Teachers and students must be guaranteed the freedom to express their own views and argue their own opinions, however unpopular or contrarian, within a democratic educational institution. This freedom is integral to the survival of critical thinking.
An educator’s prerogative to introduce heterogenous ideas and question or insist on empirical verification of any statement or representation is sacrosanct, as without this prerogative, learners cannot be guided towards either objective awareness or self-reflexive doubt. Any kind of coercion and violent imposition of majoritarian views and sentiments is inimical to the fundamental tenets of our Constitution and to the spirit of scientific inquiry, without which no educational institution can survive.
The DUTA demands that the DU Vice-Chancellor take stock of the threatening situation and initiate prompt disciplinary action to protect the dignity of teachers and maintain the academic character of the University. Had the Vice Chancellor taken strong deterrent action in the case of similar incidents in the recent past, such as the assault of a teacher in SRCC and the vandalisation of the office of the Dean, Law Faculty, misguided students may not have been emboldened to engage in such violent and objectionable behaviour.
The DUTA also urges the Police authorities to act without bias and in conformity with democratic values against such unruly elements who wish to destabilize and vitiate the academic environment in the University.
The DUTA also appeals to the Government to take urgent measures to counter the threat to social harmony caused by divisive propaganda by certain sections in response to the Pulwama Terror Attack, and to safeguard the rights of all citizens, including Kashmiris, to study and work in peace across the country. It appeals to the University community to reach out to vulnerable sections and instil in them the confidence that their right to study, teach and work will be safeguarded, and the academic environment and space for intellectual enquiry in the University and its colleges will not be vitiated. Teachers have a special role to play in re-affirming our Constitutional values, and reinforcing the unity and solidarity of all citizens at this critical juncture.
An educator’s prerogative to introduce heterogenous ideas and question or insist on empirical verification of any statement or representation is sacrosanct, as without this prerogative, learners cannot be guided towards either objective awareness or self-reflexive doubt. Any kind of coercion and violent imposition of majoritarian views and sentiments is inimical to the fundamental tenets of our Constitution and to the spirit of scientific inquiry, without which no educational institution can survive.
The DUTA demands that the DU Vice-Chancellor take stock of the threatening situation and initiate prompt disciplinary action to protect the dignity of teachers and maintain the academic character of the University. Had the Vice Chancellor taken strong deterrent action in the case of similar incidents in the recent past, such as the assault of a teacher in SRCC and the vandalisation of the office of the Dean, Law Faculty, misguided students may not have been emboldened to engage in such violent and objectionable behaviour.
The DUTA also urges the Police authorities to act without bias and in conformity with democratic values against such unruly elements who wish to destabilize and vitiate the academic environment in the University.
The DUTA also appeals to the Government to take urgent measures to counter the threat to social harmony caused by divisive propaganda by certain sections in response to the Pulwama Terror Attack, and to safeguard the rights of all citizens, including Kashmiris, to study and work in peace across the country. It appeals to the University community to reach out to vulnerable sections and instil in them the confidence that their right to study, teach and work will be safeguarded, and the academic environment and space for intellectual enquiry in the University and its colleges will not be vitiated. Teachers have a special role to play in re-affirming our Constitutional values, and reinforcing the unity and solidarity of all citizens at this critical juncture.
| Rajib Ray President, DUTA Vivek Chaudhary Secretary, DUTA |
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