Pune: IISER students, in a statement issued on Wednesday, condemned the IISER Pune administration’s retraction of the jailed activist Umar Khalid’s book “Fractured Communities” from its library at the ‘behest of political organisations external to the Institute’.
Imploring the IISER administration to uphold its integrity and its values of fostering academic independence and scientific temper, the statement said that ‘such developments raise long-standing questions about academic autonomy, the legitimacy of marginalised intellectual traditions, and the dismantling of freedom to question dominant social hierarchies within our universities. Questioning the institute’s withdrawal of the book from the library, students said it raises ‘serious concerns about academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and the administration’s commitment to open and evidence-based inquiry. Calling the book an important work of scholarship on Adivasi movements that challenges mainstream conceptualisation of Adivasi identity as a monolith, the statement said the book was withdrawn without consulting the users of the library infrastructure. Citing the previous incidents where a pride march and on-campus celebrations associated with the anniversary of Babasaheb Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar were denied permission by the director owing to external pressures, the statement said, “The Institute’s response reflects its long-standing position of betraying its students when faced with external pressure. ” TOI reached out to the IISER Pune administration on the students’ statement but no comment was made till late on Wednesday night.
Students also alleged that while the director was available to meet ABVP representatives within hours of the Monday protest, IISER students had to stage a week-long sit-in protest for a meeting.