O, my Lord! When TISS invited an ‘unacceptable speech’ on itself

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) is probably regretting its invitation to Lord Meghnad Desai for its annual convocation function held on Wednesday.

Almost the entire faculty was embarrassed by the views expressed by Desai, professor-emeritus in London School of Economics (LSE), on reservations during his lecture as the chief guest in its campus Deonar.

Desai spoke at length against the government’s policy on quota, to an audience which knows a thing or two about inclusive education. In fact, at the end of it all, the faculty wondered why he was invited at all. Desai was one of the names that were mooted in the academic council meeting for the convocation’s chief guest. Many professors believe that he was called to strengthen the institute’s close relationship with LSE (they run collaborative programmes).

The topic given to Desai for the lecture was on ‘Institutional Growth’. While convocation speeches usually arrive in writing well in advance of the programme, Desai’s was extempore. Desai has become a talking point among the faculty, though the institute is closed immediately after the convocation event for summer holidays.

When Desai spoke, there was neither booing nor cheering from the crowd, considering the fact that the student community there may be somewhat divided on the issue, unlike the near-homogeneity among the professors.

A professor said, “Had he given a similar speech in Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, he would have been hooted away by the crowd.”

Another professor said, “The faculty members in TISS always consider ways to include more students from the SC/ST category, so his speech was unacceptable in the campus. It was a sensitive issue and should have been dealt with sensitivity.”

Dean of the School of Management in TISS, Sharit Bhowmik, was not present at the convocation. He said, “However, I read about Desai’s views in the media.” Bhowmik said, “It does not represent the truth. There is an in-built bias against SC/ST, and hence to include them in the mainstream development, it is important to give them opportunities.”

According to Bhowmik, strengthening primary and secondary education (as suggested by Desai), was “an old issue, which has been discussed earlier by Sam Pitroda and the likes”.

TISS director S Parasuraman said, “We are still in the process of analysing and examining what Desai said. The speech has led to a debate on the campus. What he meant was equal opportunities should be available at all levels, not only for higher education. But it was not a universal view. To every view, there is a counterview.” He added that every speech delivered in the institute’s campus is “reviewed” later.

A professor said, “He contradicted the social development path the country has taken. He was speaking very casually and he did not come across as a scholarly person. It was not even a studied comment. Convocation is not a platform for debates. He could have come, spoken about students’ graduation, and left. He has contradicted the institute’s philosophy.”

Another professor said, “He does not know much about our country. He is a true Brit. He believes the general misconception on how reservation would mean decline of merit, which is untrue.”