What’s
wrong with Delhi University reprinting an old Hindi book on the 16th
century saint-scholar and reformer Sankar Dev from Assam? Nothing
really, if it is deemed in isolation. But once one takes into account
the record of Delhi University’s publication wing in reprinting old
manuscripts, eyebrows were bound to rise. This was the first time, claim
old-timers, that the Hindi directorate had reprinted a book not
published by itself. The decision to print or reprint books generally
follows a procedure, is referred to an expert committee and takes over a
year or more before the final publication. But in this case, nobody
knows who was consulted and how the selection was made. Nor was it clear
what the urgency was.
The DU went a step forward by holding an impressive function last
month to launch the book—again an apparent first. The invitation to RSS
ideologue Krishna Gopal to speak on the occasion—though the invitation
card carried only the name of journalist-editor Ram Bahadur Rai, a
former socialist who has drifted to the RSS—intrigued many till Sangh
sources explained that he had been deputed by the organisation to look
after university affairs.
The function was not conducted by anyone from the directorate which
had printed the book. The honour was given to a teacher appointed barely
a month ago. And he kept referring to Krishna Gopal as “Dada”, either
to impress the audience about his closeness with the chief guest or to
indicate that it was a function less of the Delhi University and more of
the Sangh. For good measure, as many as five BJP MPs from the Northeast
were in attendance and also present was the MoS for youth affairs and
sports, Sarbananda Sonowal, who belongs to Assam. If invitations were
sent to other MPs from the Northeast, it remained a closely guarded
secret.
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| Little or no time was given to Sankar Dev’s Bhakti works; much was made of his use of the word ‘Bharat’. |
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The
high-profile function was attended by a large number of top
functionaries of the university, including vice-chancellor Dinesh
Singh, pro-vice-chancellor Sudhish Pachauri and director of the South
campus, Umesh Rai. So could all this have had anything to do with the
assembly elections in Assam, due in 2016? Of course not, say outraged
officials, indignant that such a suggestion was even made. But there are
those who are convinced that Delhi University and its resources are
being used for political and ideological purpose. If more evidence was
needed, say critics, one could refer to the speeches made on the
occasion when little or no mention was made to Sankar Dev’s works in the
Bhakti tradition while much was made of his use of the word ‘Bharat’.
Critics say the technique is to advance a fishy political agenda
behind a goody-goody facade. For instance, as part of the DU’s programme
to facilitate a better understanding of the country through travel,
students were taken to Northeastern states last year. Aptly christened
‘Gyanoday Express’, prima facie there was nothing suspicious about the
trip except that once again the unofficial ‘Dada’ Krishna Gopal was at
hand to enlighten the students at an orientation session (attended by
the V-C as well).
At the session, Gopal dwelt at length on the importance of the
Northeast to India and the influence of Hinduism in the region. It’s not
known if the composition of the student group included people from
diverse backgrounds and religious groups.
Several members of the academic council complain that V-C Dinesh
Singh has violated statutory provisions while allowing appointment of
teachers. “Sub-standard candidates with bare minimum marks of 55 per
cent and little or no teaching experience have been appointed due to
caste, regional and political factors,” asserts council member
Rudrashish Chakraborty. He also confirmed that in many cases candidates
who have not qualified through net have been forcibly thrust upon
colleges in violation of an SC judgement that debars such selections.
Abha Dev Habib, teachers’ representative in the executive council, says
she regrets that despite having drawn the attention of the Visitor (the
President of India) and the department of human resources development,
no action has been taken against the V-C.
 “The V-C is a feudal and an opportunist. He earlier tweaked rules according to the wishes of his new political masters.” Nandita Narain, DUTA president |
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 “There’s been no fresh notification from the UGC on appointments. All appointments were made as per guidelines.” Umesh Rai, South campus director |
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 “DU has 4,000 vacant posts. The impression is that extra-academic factors have influenced many appointments.” Abha Dev Habib, Executive council |
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 “It
isn’t illegal to hold RSS shakhas inside the campus; they are meant for
nation-building, it’s not unconstitutional or against institutions.”
Rakesh Sinha, Director, India Foundation |
It’s not as if the inroads into DU are being made now. Umesh Rai,
known to be close to Krishna Gopal, was appointed director way back in
2010. With a Modi wave blowing across the country in 2013, DU officials
abandoned all discretion and began wooing the RSS openly. Soon, RSS
leaders like Suresh Soni, Ram Madhav, Indresh Kumar and Gopal and became
regular invitees to the campus.
The recently concluded Delhi University Teachers’ Association
elections witnessed the vigorous participation of the National
Democratic Teachers’ Front, the teachers’ body backed by the BJP. (The
Left candidate, Nandita Narain, just about managed to hold her own and
got narrowly re-elected as president but the NDTF had made its presence
felt.)
Photograph by Tribhuvan Tiwari
A senior professor says such open display and advancement of one’s
political leanings has not been witnessed before on campus. “Earlier,
we were aware who subscribed to which ideology but now teachers don’t
mind flaunting their RSS affiliations,” he says.
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| Easter celebrations were disallowed citing SRCC’s ‘secular’ nature.... Then came the ‘Mata ki chauki’ invite. |
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RSS
shakhas are also now a regular feature on the DU campus. Every morning,
about 10-25 college students in khaki shorts can be seen going about
their drills at Buddha Vatika, across the V-C’s office in the
university’s North campus. With the trademark ‘bhagwa dhwaj’ fluttering
on one side, students also play kabaddi while shouting “Bharat mata ki
jai” every now and then.
Sri Ram College of Commerce, which had been one of the first to
invite the then chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, to address
students, is among the favourite haunts of BJP leaders. In February,
Smriti Irani, as HRD minister, visited the college to ‘interact’ with
students. Significantly, in srcc college authorities denied permission
for Easter celebrations on its lawns in April on the ground that it is a
‘secular’ college. But a ‘Mata ki chauki’ was allowed on the college
premises on July 4. The invitation went out from the officiating
principal to all faculty members.
And now students are under pressure to invite Union home minister
Rajnath Singh. On August 17, veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani visited
Hansraj College. Such visits by political leaders and ministers were
virtually unknown in Delhi University but the winds of change are
blowing for all to see.
Disillusioned by the steady saffronisation and the perceived ‘fall in
academic standards’, there’s also been an erosion of teacher talent
from the university. Some have taken up jobs elsewhere while others have
gone on fellowship. Some have moved to the Nehru Memorial Museum and
Library while others have opted to join private universities, not
necessarily for higher salaries.
“The disillusionment is due to the tweaking of rules for the
convenience of certain sections, appointments on the basis of social
contacts and caste rather than merit, and the slow and steady
saffronisation of the teaching staff by filling up posts with RSS/BJP
supporters,” claims a head of department. Petitions have been filed in
the Delhi High Court challenging DU’s alleged manipulation of the
SC/ST/OBC roster in violation of constitutional provisions. The next
date of hearing on this only comes in December this year.
