Contributors

October 10, 2010

Please endorse this statement opposing MU book ban

Dear friends,

Please read the letter included in this post that has been drafted to oppose the manner in which the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mumbai has flouted administrative procedures and bypassed academic bodies to omit a novel from the syllabus of English Literature for SYBA in response to pressure from a political group.

It is addressed to the Governor of Maharashtra, who is the Chancellor of the University and copies will be marked to the VC and to the Chairman of the University Grants Commission.

If you strongly feel that voices of dissent need to emerge against the shrinking democratic spaces within the University and the city of Mumbai in general, then please lend your support by endorsing the statement and signing the letter.


Thank you,
Neil Maheshwari.
Assistant General Secretary.
Social Service League.
 
P.S. - Please comment on this with your full name, college (or alma mater) and year if you're a student or with your organisation and position if you are not, to affirm your signature to this letter. Kindly remember that we need as many signatories as possible, both students and otherwise, to make the University and its officers take notice. In that vein forward the URL of this blog as far and wide as you can via e-mail, social networking sites and in person.




To,

The  Governor  of  Maharashtra,Address


Cc:

The Vice Chancellor,University  of  Mumbai,Address

The  Chairman  of  the  University  Grants  Commission,Address





Subject:  Statement  of  Opposition  Against  the  Vice-Chancellor’s  Decision  to  Drop  Such  A  Long  Journey  from  the SYBA  English  Syllabus  of  Mumbai  University

   We,  the  undersigned  current  and  former  students  and  teachers  of  the  University  of  Mumbai;  students  and  teachers  from universities  all  over  India;  representatives  of  different  peoples,  non-profit  and  non-governmental  organisations  and  independent researchers  and  mediapersons,  condemn  the  undemocratic  manner  in  which  Rohinton  Mistry’s  novel  Such  A  Long  Journey  was  omitted  from  the  Second  Year  Bachelor  of  Arts  (SYBA)  English  Literature  syllabus  of  the  University  of  Mumbai.

   We  are  disturbed  and  alarmed  by  the  manner  in  which  the  Vice-Chancellor  of  the  University,  Dr.  Rajan  Welukar,  bowed  down to  the  demands  of  the  Bharatiya  Vidyarthi  Sena  (the  student  wing  of  the  Shiv  Sena)  and  had  the  novel  dropped  from  the syllabus  overnight,  purely  on  account  of  the  group’s  displeasure  with  “anti  Shiv  Sena  passages”;  “derogatory  references”  to Mumbai’s  dabbawalas,  the  Marathi  Manoos  and  Pandit  Jawaharlal  Nehru;  and  “extremely  obscene  and  vulgar  language  in  its  text”.

   While  we  do  not  deny  that  the  BVS  and  its  supporters  have  every  right  to  be  outraged  by  the  contents  of  the  novel,  we strongly  oppose  the  means  which  they  have  chosen  to  express  their  dissent,  which  includes  burning  copies  of  the  book  and the  issuing  of  ultimatums  not  only  for  the  VC  to  omit  the  text  from  the  syllabus  within  24  hours,  but  also  to  exclude  the professors  who  included  to  text  in  the  syllabus  from any university  work in  the  future.  Furthermore,  being  keenly  aware  of  the immense  bureaucracy  involved  in  the  decision-making  processes  of  the  University,  we  question  the  nature  of  the  administrative process  which  led  to  the  book  being  dropped  from  the  syllabus  and  demand  that  the  details  of  the  said  proceedings  be made  public.

   Lastly,  in  the  interest  of  upholding  the  democratic  principles  enshrined  within  the  Indian  Constitution,  we  demand  that  the  novel be  reinstated  in  the  syllabus  and  urge  the  BVS  and  its  supporters  to  initiate  healthy  and  democratic  debate  regarding whether  it  deserves  a  place  in  the  syllabus  or  not.





Yours  sincerely,

  1. Asad Bin Saif                                BUILD
  2. Avinash Kadam                           Revolutionary Cultural Movement
  3. Dr. Arif Syed                               Citizens' Initiative for Peace
  4. Jatin Desai                                  Peoples' Media Initiative
  5. Kamayani                                    Human Rights activist
  6. Madhav Menon                           Citizens' Initiative for Peace
  7. Meena Menon                             Focus on the Global South
  8. Salil Rameshchandra                   Citizens' Initiative for Peace
  9. Sukla Sen                                    Ekta (Committee for Communal Amity)

Please add your name, college/organisation name, position/department/year, etc. as a comment.

159 comments:

  1. Neil Maheshwari.
    St. Xavier's College, SYBA.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tanvi Mallya, Mumbai University (Ex-Xavierite), MA-I

    ReplyDelete
  4. Aditi Shah, St. Xavier's College, SYBA

    ReplyDelete
  5. Daniel Rego.
    St. Xavier's College, TYBA.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Flavia Lewis, St. Xavier's College, SYBMS.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Arnold Fernandes,St. Xavier's College,FYBSc

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sasha Pinto, St. Xavier's College, SYBA

    ReplyDelete
  9. Crystal D'Souza, St. Xavier's College, SYBMS

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ashwin Pothen. St. Xavier's College, SYBA

    ReplyDelete
  11. Fabiola Monteiro. St. Xavier's College, SYJC.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Shwetha Nair.Msc Mumbai university. EX XAVIERITE!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Aditi Zacharia. St Xaviers College Alumnus'10

    ReplyDelete
  14. Arwa Nakara...Ex-Xavierite class of 2010

    ReplyDelete
  15. Akshaya Nambiar, St.Xavier College ,F.Y.BSc.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Russell Menezes St.Xaviers College, TYBSc

    ReplyDelete
  17. Abhay Aggarwal, Copywriter, Experience Commerce

    ReplyDelete
  18. Kanan Dubal, TYBA St. Xavier's College

    ReplyDelete
  19. Nigel Coutinho, Ex- Xavierite, 2007

    ReplyDelete
  20. Ashwati Thampi,St.Xavier's College,SYBA

    ReplyDelete
  21. Aadesh Bhangre
    FYBSc
    St. Xavier's College

    ReplyDelete
  22. JOFY BABY,
    ST.XAVIER'S COLLEGE,
    TYBSc-IT

    ReplyDelete
  23. Desiree Allams
    FYBA
    St.Xaviers College

    ReplyDelete
  24. Nivedita Lobo Gajiwala
    St. Xaviers College
    SYBA

    ReplyDelete
  25. Menaka Premkumar, St Xavier's College Alumnus, Batch 2000- 2005

    ReplyDelete
  26. Karuna D'Souza
    St. Xavier's (2007)& TISS (2009) Alumnus

    ReplyDelete
  27. Priti Khanderia, Lala Lajpatrai College alumnus.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Manoj Khanderia, NM College alumnus.

    ReplyDelete
  29. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Aditya Prakash SYBA St. Xavier's College

    ReplyDelete
  31. Antara Telang FYBA St. Xavier's College

    ReplyDelete
  32. Shreya Dhame, St. Xaviers College

    ReplyDelete
  33. Conrad Noronha, SYBA, St. Xavier's College.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Karthik Rajagopal, TYBSc, St.Xaviers College.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Ayumi Rajalingam, St.Xavier's Alumni...

    ReplyDelete
  36. Huzan Tata, SYBA, St. Xaviers College

    ReplyDelete
  37. Ankur Sharma, FYBA, St. Xavier's College

    ReplyDelete
  38. Kiera Carvalho, St. Xavier's College (Batch of 2007), Tata Group HR

    ReplyDelete
  39. Nikita Lobo, SYBA, St. Xaviers' College

    ReplyDelete
  40. Ram Sharma, BE (Computers), K J Somaiya College of Engineering, Vidyavihar (1999-2003)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Laurette Reynolds, St. Xavier's College, TYBA

    ReplyDelete
  42. Suzanna Michael, St. Xavier's College - Alumnus

    ReplyDelete
  43. Cara D'souza
    SYBA
    St. Xavier's College

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hazel Correa, St. Xavier's College - Alumnus

    ReplyDelete
  45. Newton Lewis, University of Arkansas Alumnus

    ReplyDelete
  46. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Kumar Pratyush, MDI, Gurgaon 2008-10, Axis bank, New Delhi

    ReplyDelete
  48. Eroica Monserrate
    TYBA,
    Sophia College

    ReplyDelete
  49. Nachiket Joshi
    TYBA,
    St. Xavier's college.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Solomon Dias,
    St.Xavier's College,
    FYBSc.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Herold Quadros
    SYBA
    St. Xavier's College

    ReplyDelete
  52. Roxanne Godinho
    SYJC
    St. Xavier's College

    ReplyDelete
  53. Sidharth Lodha
    Student,
    University of Leeds
    Ex-Xaviertie

    ReplyDelete
  54. Lalkholian Guite.
    Class of 2007(sociology-History)

    ReplyDelete
  55. Sucharita Kanjilal, TYBA, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Frances Rebello (nee Gracias), St Xavier's Class of 1990- Psycho-Socio

    Thanks Fr Frazer for standing up to dada-giri!
    We finally didn't turn the left cheek like we normally do!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Sharvari Joshi, FYJC, St. Xavier's College.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Sujeet Bhatt
    Disgusted Mumbaikar.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Siddhesh Inamdar
    St Xavier's
    English Literature
    2007-08

    ReplyDelete
  60. Mathew J Varghese,
    St. Xavier's College Alum 2006

    ReplyDelete
  61. Usha Iyer,
    St. Xavier's College Alumna,
    Batch of 2006

    ReplyDelete
  62. Natasha Cooper, St Xavier's College (2008), English Literature

    ReplyDelete
  63. Shaunak Sastry
    Alumni
    Class of 2004 Psychology

    ReplyDelete
  64. Avni Majithia-Sejpal
    Alumni, English Literature (2007)

    ReplyDelete
  65. Eesha Phanse
    Alumni, St Xavier's College
    English Literature, 2007

    ReplyDelete
  66. Nikhita George
    St.Xavier's College, SYBMS

    ReplyDelete
  67. Srijan Shukla
    Alumni
    St. Xavier's COllege,
    Batch of 2008.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Benoy Paul Jose,
    Alumni St.Xavier's College,
    BA Economics- Batch of 2006.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Principal Dr. G. Ramamchandram.

    I endorse your petition to the Chancellor. Reproduced below is the statement released to The Mumbai Mirror.




    Take action against VC
    Dr.G.Ramachandram*

    This has reference to the headline 'Xavier's Principal takes on Sena and his own student'(MM 10/10). It is shocking that we have such a timid and chauvinistic Vice Chancellor of the University of Mumbai. It is a disgrace to the premier institution. I wish to remind him of the role of the University that the father of modern India Pandit Nehru spoke of at a special convocation of the University of Allahabad in December 1947. He said: "A university stands for humanism, for tolerance, for reason, for progress, for the adventure of ideas and for the search for truth. It stands for the onward march of the human race towards even higher objectives...But if the temple of learning itself becomes a home of narrow bigotry and petty objectives, how then will the nation prosper or a people grow in stature?" The VC has no authority to ban the novel Such a Long Journey, prescribed by the University for the English literature students, unilaterally and arbitrarily at the best of a few lumpen elements. He showed utter ignorance of the ethos of Indian civilisation and culture based on diversity, plurality and tolerance. Nor does he understand the essence of dissent in a vibrant secular and liberal democracy like ours. The government of maharashtra must take action against the VC for coming under political pressure and doing disservice to the university. He should immediately revoke the ban against the novel.

    A piece of advice to young Aditya. It is shocking that being a student of history, he learnt no lesson from the Indian history - the history of composite culture. He himself is a product of the liberal educational institutions - the Bombay Scottish School and the Xavier's College. And yet he finds comfort in pursuing a narrow linguistic agenda and an extreme political ideology. He shouldn't be under any illusion of carving a political space for himself with this mindset.



    * Retired Principal, KES College Mumbai.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Lynette Martins
    Sophia College
    Batch of 2010

    ReplyDelete
  71. Ajay D'souza
    Alumni,
    St.Xavier's College

    ReplyDelete
  72. Siddharth Sathyajit.
    Student,
    SYJC,
    St.Xavier's College.
    (:

    ReplyDelete
  73. Jeanette Martins
    Ruia College
    Alumni.

    ReplyDelete
  74. SOLI COOPER
    ADVOCATE
    ALUMNI
    ST. XAVIERS COLLEGE.

    I totally endorse this Petition. Its disgraceful that the Vice Chancellor has displayed utter spinelessness in giving in to petty thuggery. The head of an academic institution must have the courage and ability to stand up for academic freedom and if he cant, he shouldn't be there. He should hang his head in shame and resign. I applaud the Principal of St. Xavier's College for standing up for his principles. he makes me proud to be an ex-Xavierite.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Annette Martins
    Sophia college
    Alumni

    ReplyDelete
  76. Anand Chandy
    Sr. Correspondent
    The Man Magazine
    Alumni
    St. Xavier's College

    I completely endorse the petition. Its high time we jump of this diseased carousel that makes education in Mumbai a mighty farce. What's next? What Hitler did with the Jews in biology textbooks? I stand by Fr. Frazer and applaud him for standing up for education.

    ReplyDelete
  77. Tripti Mehta
    St. Xavier's College
    Batch of 2010

    ReplyDelete
  78. Shailesh Pol
    S.Y.B.Tech
    VJTI college
    I completely support d VC of mumbai university..
    d book contained highly objectionable content..nd jst in d name of democracy u cant let d book harm people sentiments..
    thnk of d masses..d book offends thousands..probably lakhs.
    so in order to not hurt d people..d VC has taken a wise decision

    ReplyDelete
  79. Anisha Gadikar, St.Xavier's College, SYBA

    ReplyDelete
  80. I back this. Mahesh Vijapurkar, former Deputy Editor, The Hindu.

    My contribution to this issue: http://vijapurkar.blogspot.com/2010/10/more-about-banned-books.html

    My email: mvijapurkar@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  81. Anne Thomas Panicker, TYBA, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai

    ReplyDelete
  82. Indian society is grateful to have the likes of Fr. Frazer, who has the courage to stand up and be counted among those who will not be cowed down by the politics of intimidation. One can only hope that the concerned authorities will show the same mettle in resolving this issue.

    Sushant Raut,
    ex-Xavierite (Batch of 2006),
    Ph.D. student (IIT Bombay),
    Mumbaikar and Maharashtrian.

    ReplyDelete
  83. Kushal Raja, St.Xavier's College, TYBA

    ReplyDelete
  84. I am glad that Prof. Frazer is taking on fascist forces that seem to demand destruction of liberal spaces and academic freedom.
    T. V. H. Prathamesh
    ex Xavierite(Batch of 2005)
    Ph.D Student(Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore)
    and People's Democratic Front, Karnataka

    ReplyDelete
  85. I fully endorse this Petition.

    Ethel Pereira
    Advocate

    ReplyDelete
  86. This is just the result of a spoilt brat's tantrum because he wants to be a big boy - and the VC is a coward.

    Ashaita Mahajan
    Alumni - St. Xavier's College
    Batch of 2007, Economics

    ReplyDelete
  87. Dylan D'Souza
    Xavier Institute of Engineering
    Second Year, Computer Engineering.

    ReplyDelete
  88. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  89. Priyanka Bhattacharya Dutt
    Class of 2004 - Sociology

    ReplyDelete
  90. Naisha Pandya, St.Xavier's College, SYBA.

    ReplyDelete
  91. Clint Lopez
    Msc Part 2 - Geology
    St. Xavier's College

    ReplyDelete
  92. Anuj More
    Xavier Institute of Engineering
    Second Year, IT.

    ReplyDelete
  93. Go Fr. Frazer!

    Rohit Thombre
    Ex-Xavierite (Economics, 2006)
    ICICI Bank, Bombay

    ReplyDelete
  94. Sambuddha Guhathakurta
    SYBMM
    St. Xavier's College

    ReplyDelete
  95. Dr. Swapna Banerjee-Guha
    Professor of Development Studies
    School of Social Sciences
    Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India

    ReplyDelete
  96. Burning Books is a cardinal crime - those people need to be punished. Its heart-breaking that our so called "new generation" is so back-ward and narrow minded. Democracy is a cruel excuse political parties use to get away with murder.. sometimes literally.

    I full support this petition.

    ReplyDelete
  97. Ranjana Dave
    Alumna, St. Xavier's College,
    BMM (Journalism), 2008.

    ReplyDelete
  98. Kameshwari Srinivasan, TYBA
    St. Xavier's

    ReplyDelete
  99. Shamna Jafer
    Alumni
    Sophia College

    ReplyDelete
  100. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  101. Premjish
    School of Arts and Aesthetics
    JNU

    Gen Secretary, NSUI JNU

    ReplyDelete
  102. Maherra Khambaty, TYBA, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.

    ReplyDelete
  103. Dipthi B, St. Xavier's College, Class of 07

    ReplyDelete
  104. Uma Shirodkar, SYBSc, IHM Mumbai.

    ReplyDelete
  105. Thanks VC for banning Such a Long Journey. It's turning out to be a superb publicity stunt for a great book. Now that just about every literature student is dying to hit the books, bring it back!


    Nicole Soares
    Ex-xavierite and avid reader of banned, burnt and otherwise mistreated novels.

    ReplyDelete
  106. Sucheta Kanjilal
    St. Xavier's 2007
    PhD Student of South Asian Literature, U of Minnesota, Twin Cities

    ReplyDelete
  107. Please form a Real agenda for your party, that addresses Real issues.
    Neha Govindan

    ReplyDelete
  108. St.Xavier's College, 2005 Batch.

    ReplyDelete
  109. Cheryl Fernandes,
    B.A. Economics, St. Xavier's College, 2010
    L.L.B., Government Law College.

    ReplyDelete
  110. I endorse it wholeheartedly.

    This entire thing seems to be a way to direct attention to the kid Thackeray coz they intend to politically launch him on the 22nd of Oct.

    Father Frazer gets my vote.

    Stephanie D'Sa
    St. Xavier's Alumni

    ReplyDelete
  111. Hardik Panjwani

    B. Sc. Physics 2005, St. Xaviers College
    B. Sc. mathematics 2006, St. Xaviers College

    Currently physics graduate student at Syracuse University, USA

    ReplyDelete
  112. Manjyot Bhan

    B.A Economics
    St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, Alumni(2007)

    MS Sustainability
    Arizona State University, USA, Alumni(2010)

    ReplyDelete
  113. Svati Chakravarty Bhatkal
    Media Professional, Faculty, Xavier Institute of Communication

    I fully endorse this petition.

    ReplyDelete
  114. Democracy entitles you to have an opinion. It doesn't, however, entitle you to force that opinion on others.

    Joash Miranda
    St. Xavier's College, Mumbai (T.Y.B.Sc.)

    ReplyDelete
  115. Rohit Bhanushali.
    Fybsc.
    St. Xaviers college, Mumbai.

    ReplyDelete
  116. Clyde Galbao TYBA St Xaviers college (Eng Lit)
    Assistant General Secretary (Social Service League)

    ReplyDelete
  117. Tanya Jackson
    Ex-Xavierite English Literature(2008)
    LSE student

    ReplyDelete
  118. Haem Roy
    Ex-Xavierite and proud English Lit. Student (2007), current MA English student,
    Ex-SSL Exec Comm member,
    Advertising and media professional.

    ReplyDelete
  119. P.S.: I have read the novel (and many other banned ones), even did a presentation on it in my SYBA, and absolutely loved it!

    ReplyDelete
  120. Have they never heard of the Fundamental Right of Freedom of Speech and Expression?

    Marisa Goel
    Xaviers Alumni (1976)

    ReplyDelete
  121. Freedom of Education...and down with this Dadagiri,
    Reva Wadhwa
    Xavier's Alumni- 2007

    ReplyDelete
  122. Namrata D'souza
    TYBMM (Journalism)
    St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.

    ReplyDelete
  123. akshita mathur
    SYBA
    ST XAVIER'S COLLEGE ,MUMBAI .

    ReplyDelete
  124. Arjun Deka
    FYBSc IT
    St.Xavier's College

    ReplyDelete
  125. Aamna Khan
    FYBSc. IT
    St. Xavier's College

    ReplyDelete
  126. Ela Arur
    St. Xavier's College Alumna
    Class of 2006

    ReplyDelete
  127. Akhila Natarajan
    St. Xavier's College
    Economics - Class of 2007-08
    Senior Account Executive at Hanmer MSL Communications

    ReplyDelete
  128. This to protect our freedom of expression in literature and other forms of art.

    Mariette Valsan
    St Xavier's College
    English - Class of 2006-2007
    Media Relations and Operations Executive and PR Newswire

    ReplyDelete
  129. Freedom isn't free, you have to earn it and protect it, the time is now, stand up and be counted

    Jonathan Seldon
    St. Xavier's College
    History - Class of 2007-08

    ReplyDelete
  130. Savio Pashana
    St. Xavier's College,
    BA (Eco-Comm)
    Class of '09

    ReplyDelete
  131. Saurabh Prabhuzantye
    PGIM'10, MDI, Gurgaon, Dolcera, Hyderabad

    ReplyDelete
  132. Xavier Institute of technology ,SE computer engineering

    pls get tht book back !!

    ReplyDelete
  133. Xavier Institute of engineering ,SE computer engineering


    pls get tht book back !!

    ReplyDelete
  134. Rohit Jha, TYBSC, St.Xavier's college (Mumbai).

    ReplyDelete
  135. Nivedita Raut
    SYJC
    St. Xavier's College (Mumbai)

    ReplyDelete
  136. Deanne D'sa
    F.Y.BSc.
    St. Xavier's College Mumbai

    ReplyDelete
  137. Ayesha Bapasola.
    S.Y.B.A
    St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.

    ReplyDelete
  138. Pomita Ghoshal
    Post-Doctoral Fellow (Particle Physics)
    SISSA, Italy
    (formerly in TIFR, Mumbai)

    ReplyDelete
  139. Hemali Dhame
    Ex-student Poddar College, Bombay

    Acts of illiterate are now hard to digest by their educated generations.

    ReplyDelete
  140. Shruti Garodia
    St. Xavier's College, 2006

    ReplyDelete
  141. Sulagna Chakrabarty,
    St. Xavier's College,2010
    TYBSc

    ReplyDelete
  142. Paras Sharma
    Wilson College, 2009
    TISS 2009-11

    ReplyDelete
  143. Fiona D'souza
    NIFT, Kolkata (2008- 2012)
    Ex- Xavierite

    ReplyDelete
  144. Aditi Deopujari

    St. Xavier's College, Geology (Alumnus)

    ReplyDelete