We, the undersigned, condemn the repeated attacks on Professor Nivedita Menon, the most recent of which being the police complaint lodged against her on the 3rd of February, 2017 (as also against Professor Rajshree Ranawat) for allegedly making ‘anti-national’ remarks during a seminar organised by the Department of English, Jai Narain Vyas University. This incident, we believe, is continuous with the spate of attacks that Professor Menon has had to face for taking an astute stand against the RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh (RSS), its student-wing the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), and the nefarious politics of Hindutva in general. We refuse the rationale of dissent against Hindutva as dissent against the nation, because our idea of the nation is not of the Hindu Rashtra but of secularism, democracy, and social justice. Both as a voice of dissent and a formidable scholar of politics, Professor Nivedita Menon is an inspirational figure. She is a consistent articulation of conscience and an abiding commitment to the ideals that our freedom fighters envisioned for our nation. It is our conviction that patriotism is not only love for the abstract entity of the nation but also for its people, regardless of class, caste, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or any other marker that is used to advantage or disadvantage groups. The ‘patriotism’ that the RSS and its henchmen claim to champion is hateful, divisive, and truly anti-national.
It is our concern as students, therefore, that the ABVP claims to speak for the student community. This petition is a rejection of that assertion, and a statement in solidarity with Professor Nivedita Menon. We hope for and demand the cessation of attacks on Professor Nivedita Menon and the protection of her inalienable freedom and right to oppose the politics of division and communalism.
- Kartik Maini, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi
- Chanya Jaitly, University of Delhi
- Shriya Tandon, University of Delhi
- Mrinal, University of Delhi
- Kaushik Thanugonda, National Law University, Delhi
- Priyali Dhingra, University of Delhi
- Shikha Dimri, University of Delhi
- Neelambari M., St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi
- Ananya Jha, University of Delhi
- Vasudha Singh, University of Delhi
- Apoorvi Jha, O.P. Jindal Global University
- Shehla Rashid Shora, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Paras Arora, Hindu College, University of Delhi
- Sameer Thakur, NALSAR University of Law
- Akbar Chawdhary, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Samim Asgor Ali, SIS, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Tanmoy Sharma, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Afnan Hussain KT, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi
- Vageesh Vishnoi, Zakir Hussain College, University of Delhi
- Pradyumna Jairam, King’s College London
- Sara Haungaihching, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi
- Mir Uzair Farooq, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi
- Shivani Kasumra, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi
- Suchismita Panda, SIS, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Somok Roy, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
- Nikita Audichya, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Karan Audichya, Amity University
- Khushi Singh, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Matthew Kurian, NALSAR University of Law
- Mitsu Sahay, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
- Sudhir Selvaraj, King’s College London
- Prashanth KP, National Law University, Delhi
- Kankana, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Harshita Y, York University, Canada
- TabishRafiq Mir, SRM University, Chennai
- Sivangi Dash, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
- Medha Singh, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Taanya Kapoor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Suchismita Chattopadhyay, The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva
- Raya Sarkar, O.P. Jindal Global University
- Jhilli Sarkar, St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi
- Musharrab Noor, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi
- Afreen, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Anushka Kaushik, Sciences Po, Paris
- Vardaan Aggarwal, University of Warwick
- Rupali, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Swadha Bharpilania, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi
- Prerna Subramanian, Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar
- Anshul Mukarji, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi
- SharikLaliwala, King’s College London
- Mihira Sood, London School of Economics & Political Science
- Shambhavi Shukla, Kamla Nehru College, University of Delhi
- RomyorupMitra, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Misbah, University of Delhi
- Anil Singhal, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Sumaira Nawaz, School of Oriental and African Studies
- Rene Sharanya Verma, University of Oxford
- Kunal Garg, University of Delhi
- Mohona Chaudhuri, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi
- Mohit Kumar Pandey, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNUSU)
- Kriti Budhiraja, University of Minnesota
- Anusha Sinha, College of Business Studies, University of Delhi
- Nupur Asher, Centre for Linguistics, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Madhavi, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Sukanya Roy, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi
- Divya, ZHCES, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Niyati Sharma, University of Oxford
- Ritanjan Das, University of Portsmouth
- Shiva Sai Ram, University of Hyderabad
- Anmol Arora, Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, GGSIPU
- Rafia Zaman, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Alia Zaman, University of Delhi
- Anshu, Gargi College, University of Delhi
- Vani Shree, University of Delhi
- Aparaajita Pandey, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Preeti Raghunath, University of Hyderabad
- Sneha Banerjee, Researcher
- Ghania, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi
- Silpa, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Afzal Husain, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Azra, JamiaMilliaIslamia
- Bayar Jain, University of Delhi
- Mohit Manohar, Yale University
- Amya, University of Delhi
- Shradha TK Lama, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi
- Chhewang Dorje, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Nayantara Nandi Basu, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi
- Nainika, National Institute of Kathak
- Kalyani Pandey, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi
- Ritika Thakur, Hindu College, University of Delhi
- Rajni Nair, University of Delhi
- Jibran S Anand, University of Delhi
- SanjanaChettri, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi
- Dawa Lhamu Sherpa
- Anugyan Nag, New York University
- Shyamolie, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Tarana, University of Oxford
- Amreen, Miranda House, University of Delhi
- Anju Christine, King’s College London
- Aayush Mukherjee, IIT Kanpur
- ToorjoGhose, University of Pennsylvania
- Alamu R, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Ayu Kusumastuti, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Shruti Ambast, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- IshitaTiwary, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Akansha, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Sambhavi, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi
- Khan, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Sohini Chattopadhyay, Columbia University
- Aabha Muralidharan, Ambedkar University, Delhi
- ArchanaaSeker, Vettiver Collective
- Inayat Singh Kajar, PGIMER, Chandigarh
- Sumegha, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Bhabhani Shankar Nayak, University of Glasgow
- Andrew deSouza, Delhi School of Economics
- Debjanee Ganguly, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Tabrez, JamiaMilliaIslamia
- Aprajita Sircar, Queen’s University
- Partha Pratim Shil, University of Cambridge
- Anand PK, Harvard-Yenching Institute
- Aqsa Zaidi, Pitamah Foundation for Educational Leadership
- Snigdha Kumar, University of Minnesota
- Kanta, Ambedkar University, Delhi
- Muskan, JamiaMilliaIslamia
- Rishika, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Afiya Khalid, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
- AvinashUppuluri, MFA
- Sumedha Chakravarthy, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi
- Katyayani Dalmia, New School for Social Research
- Bhawna Kapoor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
- Sarandha Jain, Columbia University
- Shilpi Singh, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Gitika Debnath, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Jigyasa Sharma, University of Delhi
- Paro Tomar, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi
- Preeti Gulati, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- U Vindhya, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad
- Bedatri Datta Choudhury, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU
- Shiromi Chaturvedi, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
- Sana Fathima, University of Hyderabad
- Medha Saxena, University of Delhi
- Suniti Madaan, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Zainab H Razavi, University of Delhi
- Mitul Lall, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi
- Ardra NG, Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Shilpa Sharma, University of Delhi
- Anindya Sengupta, ISI Delhi
- Kaushiki Arha, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi
- Supriy Ranjan, Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Ena Panda, University of Delhi
- Annalisa Mansukhani, Nalanda University
- Nilajanaa, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Shruti Mukherjee, SUNY, Stony Brook, New York
- Ridhima Mehra, University of Delhi
- Sharika Parmar, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Debojit Dutta, Antiserious Magazine
- Anannya Chatterjee, Ambedkar University, Delhi
- Seerat Chabba, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi
- Sonya Ochaney, Mumbai University
- Alok Yadav, IIT Delhi
- Apoorva, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Poonam A., Syracuse University
- Sushmita Pati, Azim Premji University
- Dhananjay, University of Delhi
- Anmol Makkar, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Naveen Chander
- DharmeshChaubey, University of Allahabad
- Bhargav Rani, City University of New York
- Paavani Singh, King’s College London
- Angana Sinha Ray, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi
- Blessy, University of Delhi
- Abhay Kumar, CHS, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Subia Ahmad, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Vishesh Guru, Ashoka University
- Vikash Raj, University of Delhi
- Dharmendra Sundesha, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Sikandar Kumar, University of Michigan
- Kamyakiran, University of Delhi
- Keisha Kashyap, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Monika, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
- Mayur Suresh, School of Oriental and African Studies
- Telugu Venkateshwarlu, MSW
- Roshni Bano, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
- Abhijeet Kumar, University of Delhi
- Tanya Kapoor, Ambedkar University, Delhi
- Sameer Chopra, University of Delhi
- Abhigyan, University of Delhi
- Sadaf Wani, Delhi School of Economics
- Fiona Kumari Campbell, University of Dundee
- Devika Dutt, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Tahiba, Delhi School of Economics
- Smarika Kumar, UHH
- SaswatiSengupta, Miranda House, University of Delhi
- Spandan Bhattacharya, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Jitendra Kumar, University of Delhi
- Rishika Sharma, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi
- Deachen Angmo, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi
- Aayushi
- Neha Chaudhary, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Raghunandan Reddy, IIT
- Anoushka Sinha, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi
- Nemo, IGNOU
- Dikshita Somaina Boro, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi
- Zoya Khan, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Bhupendra Kumar, SIS, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Ashna, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Sanjit, University of Delhi
- Ankit, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi
- Aastha Sethi, University of Delhi
- Samanwita Paul, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Amita Dhanda, NALSAR University of Law
- Shamini Kothari, St. Xavier’s College
- Vebhuti Duggal, Sarai-CSDS
- Ishan Mukherjee, University of Cambridge
- Parnisha Sarkar, University of Toronto
- Sutapa Majumdar, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune
- Ankush Das, Indian Institute of Human Rights
- Masih, South Asian University
- Rasmil K, University of Delhi
- Taneesha Mohan, London School of Economics and Political Science
- Akanksha Gupta, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi
- Ekta Kudale, Pune University
- Shreiya Maheshwari, Faculty of Law
- Veronica Sudesh, SIS, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Sudar Oil Gunasekaran, School of Architecture and Planning, Chennai
- Aman Sinha, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- MP Terence Samuel, Madurai
- Sourjya Dutta, New York University
- Ammar Ahmad, Shiv Nadar University
- Subhangi, SIS, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Shashank Kumar Singh, IGNOU
- Utpal Anish, Gujarat Vidyapith
- Arijit Roy, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi
- Sarahbeth N George, Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi
- Uttara Shahani, University of Cambridge
- Vijaya Chamundeswari, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Mrinalini Ghosh, Jadavpur University
- Malvika, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
- Hoimi Mukherjee, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Annapurna Menon, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi
- Paromita, Pune University
- Pushpa Surendra, Mysore
- Sanjay Patil, University of Mumbai
- Milind, Tata Institute of Social Science
- Udit Khanduri, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad
- Sandeep S, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
- Urmimala Sankar Munsi, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Somdatta Nandi, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Tenzin Yangki, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Simple Rajrah, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Nalini Rajan, Asian College of Journalism
- Ruchika Jain, Indian Institute of Technology
- A. Jeganathan, Madurai Kamraj University
- Abhishek Indrekar, Gujarat University
- Manisha Madapathi, Jamia Millia Islamia
- Navina Lamba, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi
- Swati Ratnoo, Ambedkar University
- Tanu, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Rajat Kanti Sur, University of Calcutta
- Souradeep Roy, University of Delhi
- Kirsty Singer, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi
- Deepasri Baul, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Sayli Waghmare, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
- Sonia Roy, SIS, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Rithvik Mathur, NALSAR University of Law
- Rajvardhan Shankar, NALSAR University of Law
- Yugal Jain, NALSAR University of Law
- Abhishek Babbar, NALSAR University of Law
- Ajoy S. Karpuram, NALSAR University of Law
- Lorna Sheikh, NALSAR University of Law
- TPS Harsha, NALSAR University of Law
- Shujat Bhat, NALSAR University of Law
- Sunisth Goyal, NALSAR University of Law
- Sayan Bhattacharya, NALSAR University of Law
- Bhavini Singh, NALSAR University of Law
- Srujana Bej, NALSAR University of Law
- Yuvraj Mehra, NALSAR University of Law
- Aadhya Kancharla, NALSAR University of Law
- P Avinash Reddy, NALSAR University of Law
- Malvika Awasthi, NALSAR University of Law
- Vaibhav Laddha, NALSAR University of Law
- Sathvik Chandrashekhar, NALSAR University of Law
- Aatmin, NALSAR University of Law
- Siddharth Aiyanna, NALSAR University of Law
- Lovish, NALSAR University of Law
- Sachit Kapoor, NALSAR University of Law
- Shrutika Murthy, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Abinash DC, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
- Tarangini Sriraman, Azim Premji University.
- Shahana Bhattacharya, University of Delhi.
KAFILA - COLLECTIVE EXPLORATIONS SINCE 2006 
We stand with professor Nivedita facing Hindutva persecution. India will not survive as democratic-secular polity if state facilitates the Hindutva goons in their nastu agenda.
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Isn’t there a penalty any more for what were called ‘frivolous’ charges? Or don’t judges any more evoke that clause? No wonder our courts are choked.
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It would be great if students as well as academicians of other universities and educational institutes express solidarity . United struggle against growing ruling- class tyranny is the need of the hour. The authoritarianism must be responded with staunch widespread dissent and protracted agitation
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The lecture by Nivedita Menon was in no way ANTINATIONAL or anti-establishment- though the later is not a crime or objectionable in cultured societies-, then why has she been targeted.
She criticized RSS and hinduttva no doubt. But before our universities became hired societies of the powers that be , these opinions and arguments uttered at such seminars never even attracted attention of authorities; not to talk of censuring them.
I STRONGLY CONDEMN THSI ABHORABKEACT KF RAJASTHAN GOVERNMENT AND UNIVERISTY.
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In solidarity with Nivedita Menon.
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