Maharashtra Dalit professor accuses V- C of harassment
Thursday, 20 May 2010
New Delhi, May 20: A Dalit professor at the Mahatma Gandhi
Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha, has moved the National
Commission for Scheduled Castes ( NCSC), alleging harassment by the "
caste- prejudiced" vice- chancellor of the institution.
Professor Lele Karunyakara, the director of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar
centre for Dalit and tribal studies, said the V- C, Vibhuti Narain
Rai, issued him a showcause notice for taking part in a procession
held on campus in connection with Ambedkar's birth anniversary.
According to Karunyakara, he was served three notices on the same issue.
The V- C was out to tarnish his image with false propaganda, to " ruin
his academic career and to mentally harass him", the professor said in
his letter to the NCSC in March.
" The V- C ( an IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre who took charge
in 2008) does not believe in a democratic style of functioning. Within
three days of taking charge, he issued a notice to me for availing
casual leave. Thereafter, he continued to harass me for taking part in
the procession organised by the Ambedkar students forum, an
organisation of SC/ ST students," Karunyakara said.
The professor said that as an academic he had the right to participate
in processions, especially those to commemorate the fight against
casteism. He said he had the right to profess any ideology that
strengthened national unity and integrity.
The notice served on the professor had said he raised " provocative,
casteist slogans" during the procession. But Karunyakara disagrees.
" The slogans ( I raised) were not directed at Brahmins in particular;
they are not casteist slogans but against casteism," he said.
Rai, on the other hand, said he had " warned" the professor against
taking part in such activities. According to the V- C, the peace and
tranquillity on campus was disturbed by such activities. He said he
issued the notice as a disciplinary measure and denied being " caste-
prejudiced". " I have been fighting for minorities and Dalit rights,"
he added.
Meanwhile, other university sources termed the environment at the
university " as anything but academic". The V- C, they said, was
running the university like a fiefdom.
A non- teaching staff said: " Issues that can be handled through talks
and discussions are dealt by means of notices and orders. No dissent
or differing opinion is tolerated."
---Agencies
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