Academicians Rally Behind Kerala Professor Facing Threats, After He Asked Students If BJP Can Be Considered A Proto-Fascist Organisation

Academicians and activists from across India have expressed their solidarity and released a solidarity statement in defense of Dr. Gilbert Sebastian, a professor at Central University of Kerala (CUK) who is being hounded by the University administration, University Grants Commission (UGC), the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and even right-wing extremists for asking if the BJP can be considered as ‘proto-fascist’ in one of his online class lectures.

Dr. Sebastian, who is with the department of international relations and political science, was said to have sought a discussion on whether the Sangh Parivar and the Modi government are “proto-fascist” for the first semester students held on last Monday (19th April).

In a statement signed by around 30 academicians and social activists, it said that the actions of university administration against the professor is “irresponsible”.

Dr Sebastian, who is with department of international relations and political science, was only seeking to have an “academic discussion with his students on whether India under Modi government, can be considered a proto-fascist state”, the two scholars said in the email alert, insisting, “Classrooms are meant to be platforms for discussions and interventions regarding the socio-political conditions of the country.”

Classrooms are meant to be platforms for discussions and interventions regarding the socio-political conditions of the country. But the Sangh Parivar use educational institutions as a platform to spread Hindutva terror. The Sangh has always remained intolerant towards differences and has very evidently been opposing and suppressing dissent.”

Targeting the current ruling regime of the country the statement raised serious questions about academic and instructional freedom after it gained majoritarian power.

The statement further stated, “Post 2014, under the Modi gov, the country has witnessed an explicit suppression of academic freedom. The Sangh Parivar and their stooges have been trying  to curb discussions and conversations thereby making classrooms less academic and more convenient to exercise their agenda of hatred.”

It asserted that Dr. Sebastian is another victim of this intolerance towards open discussions. 

The panel also sought accountability of the government for using and diluting academic bodies for the display of its power.

It said, “The irresponsibility shown by the UGC and the MHRD in acting without checking into the facts is to be questioned. This very gesture from the part of the administration validates the question of India stooping into a proto-fascist state.”

“We stand with Dr. Sebastian and demand immediate action to be taken against ABVP for targeting the professor. We condemn the irresponsible and biased decision of the university administration, UGC, and Ministry of Human Resources Development to take action against the professor for simply exercising his right to free speech and expression guaranteed by the Constitution of this country. We also stand for rebuilding fearless and democratic academic spaces”, it reads.

The joint solidarity statement was signed and endorsed by teachers, activists and academician from across the country and abroad. It includes Dr. K. Sathidanandan, Dr A K Ramakrishnan (Centre for West Asian Studies, JNU), Dr. Apoorvanand (University of Delhi), Dr. J. Devika (Centre for Development Studies – Trivandrum), Dr. Roop Rekha Verma (Lucknow University), Dr. Arjumand Ara (University of Delhi), Shaheen K Moidunny (Leeds University , UK), Dr. Rosina Nasir (Jawaharlal Nehru University), Dr. M H Ilyas (MG University – Kerala), Dr. O K Santhosh (University of Madras), Dr. Ghazala Jamil (Jawaharlal Nehru University), Dr. Manoranjan Mohanty (University of Delhi), Dr. Walter Farnandes (Director, North Eastern Social Research Centre, Guwahati), Dr. Ajay S Sekher (Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady), Dr. Jenny Rowena (University of Delhi), Dr. Reju George Mathew ( NIT Calicut ), Dr. Sadique P K (CEDEC NISWASS – Bhubaneswar), Rekha Raj, Dr. Karen Gabriel (St. Stephen’s College , University of Delhi), Dr. Umar Tharamel (University of Calicut), Dr. Ananta Kumar Giri (MIDS – Chennai), Dr Prem Kumar Vijayan (Hindu College, University of Delhi), Thameem T (St Stephen’s College, University Delhi), Dr Ashraf Kunnummal (University of Johannesburg), Dr. Venkatesh Athreya (Harathidasan University, Tamil Nadu), P. K Abdul Rahiman (Secretary, Teachers’ Collective of the University of Madras), Dr D P S Verma (Director, Shobhit University), Dr K S Madhavan (University of Calicut), Dr. Ashraf A Kadakkal ( University of Kerala), Dr P A Azeez (Environmentalist, Coimbatore), Dr. Azeez Tharuvana (Farook College – Calicut), Shamseer Ibrahim (National President, Fraternity Movement).