A letter condemning Singhania has been signed by some 50 activists and NGO representatives, including many who are still fighting for justice for thousands of riot victims of the 2002 disturbances.
AHMEDABAD: Vijaypat Singhania – recently appointed chairman of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad – characterised the debate on Gujarat’s communal divide, which has been scythed by the post-Godhra riots, as “confused thinking”. Little did he realise that his comment would balloon into a theme for a testier debate.
Singhania’s statement has been sharply criticised by human rights activists and NGOs from across the country. A letter condemning Singhania has been signed by some 50 activists and NGO representatives, including many who are still fighting for justice for thousands of riot victims of the 2002 disturbances.
The letter, which describes Singhania’s statements as “irresponsible, insensitive and crass”, was despatched on Monday. The man who galvanised the effort to create the communication is an addressee. The signatories of the letter include activists like Shabnam Hashmi, Lalji Desai, Nandini Manjrekar, Persis Ginwalla, and Hiren Gandhi. NGOs such as Anhad, Oxfam, Prashant, and Drishti are supporting the protest.
The letter has also been forwarded to Bakul Dholakia, IIM-A director; Jayanth Varma, the institute’s dean; and various other faculty members. In their representation, the activists and NGOs have questioned “the commitment of the corporate sector and academia to the ideals of secular, liberal democracy that has been at stake in Gujarat over the past few years”.
Activists said Singhania’s views would have an impact on young managers since he is a key role model for them and also the chairman of a premier institute. “We hope to make him realise his mistake,” said Gaurang Rawal, an activist. “If we do not receive a reply, we might meet him or the IIM-A director.”
Singhania could not be reached for comment. Incidentally, DNA first reported on January 9 that many IT majors were shunning Gujarat because their staffers, many of whom belong to the minority community, were unwilling to relocate to the state. That analysis is believed to have provoked Singhania to react.
Incensed activists, however, say in the letter that Singhania’s comments amount to asking future managers to “forget all wrongdoings, including murder, mayhem and butchery, in the blind race for FDI and investments”. The letter has been signed by activists from Ahemdabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Bhopal and New Delhi.
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