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TISS faculty, students to debate 'attack' on institutions

"This is not an official event of TISS. We are a group of academics who are deeply concerned at the attack on autonomy of some higher education institutions," said R Ramkumar, professor and dean (School of Development Studies) at TISS. The initiative — called Celebrating freedom and pluralism — will be held at the YB Chavan Centre in Nariman Point on March 5 and 6.

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In the backdrop of JNU and Hyderabad University row, some faculty members and students of the city-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), along with some activists, are holding a two-day conference to discuss the "attack on autonomy of educational institutions and freedom of expression".

"This is not an official event of TISS. We are a group of academics who are deeply concerned at the attack on autonomy of some higher education institutions," said R Ramkumar, professor and dean (School of Development Studies) at TISS. The initiative — called Celebrating freedom and pluralism — will be held at the YB Chavan Centre in Nariman Point on March 5 and 6.

"We are organising this event because we are concerned about the evolving situation in the country where different constitutional rights of citizens are under threat," he added.

"We are worried about a situation that is emerging where there is a constant brow beating against freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom to follow one's religion, freedom to eat the food that we want to eat," he said.

"Violent incidents over food habits of various social groups have escalated. Science and reason are being unceremoniously thrust aside in a renewed campaign of obscurantism. There have been widespread attacks on the freedom of speech and expression," he said.

Earlier this month, JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on sedition charges in connection with an event held on the JNU campus where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

Two weeks ago, right and left wing students groups in the TISS had a big face off with institute authorities calling police to intervene. Following the incident, professors too had extended their support to agitating students associated with left leaning groups.

Professors of the institute also sought to hold a march in the campus to protest against the "increasing interference" of the government in the Universities and "rising intolerance" in the country. Their protest got fizzled out as the institute director denied permission for the march and also counselled them to call off their agitation. The professors then cancelled the march and just limited themselves to issue a statement for the press to register their protest.

—With agency inputs

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