On 7 February 2024, a gathering arranged by the Revolutionary Students League at OP Jindal Global University in Haryana has stirred significant controversy. Despite pre-event concerns, participants were exposed to anti-Hindu discourse, contentious readings, and disturbing calls for the destruction of temples. Titled “Ram Mandir: A Farcical Project of Brahmanical Hindutva Fascism,” the event purported to be a public discussion. Organisers argued that the January 22nd ceremony, marking the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla at the Ayodhya grand mandir, revealed what they deemed as the inherent violence and anti-people nature of the Brahmanical Hindutva fascist state. They contended that the Ram Mandir concept has become synonymous with hate crimes against Muslims and Dalits in India, coupled with a broader trend of saffronisation in educational institutions. The Revolutionary Students League, formerly known as Sangharsh, orchestrated the event, urging attendees to engage with the controversial “Fight Brahmanical Hindutva Fascism” by Varavara Rao, a recommended reading found in the event brochure.
The content and communication of the event have sparked a heated debate within academic and social circles, drawing criticism for its inflammatory language and advocacy for temple destruction. As reactions continue to flood in, the university administration is under increasing pressure to address the repercussions of this contentious gathering.
The text begins with, “The deaths of Mohammad Akhlaq, Prof. M M Kalburgi, and Yakub Memon have come to symbolise, in many ways, the prevailing situation in the country under the rule of the BJP led by Modi. Akhlaq was brutally attacked at his Dadri residence in September by a mob, incited, mobilised, and led by a group of Sanghi goons after maliciously spreading rumors of beef consumption.” It goes on to state, “Prof. Kalburgi was fatally shot by unidentified Hindutva-fascist assailants due to his unwavering opposition to their agendas in Karnataka. Memon was executed this July in Nagpur jail after being convicted in the 1993 Mumbai blasts in a miscarriage of justice. According to the self-appointed enforcers of the ‘Hindu Rashtra,’ choosing one’s food is deemed anti-national, expressing dissent is deemed anti-national, and even being related to a Muslim accused of so-called anti-national activities is considered anti-national – ‘crimes’ punishable by death, as per the Manuvadi Hindutva-fascists.”
The article further said, “Whether the execution is carried out judicially by the state or by any of the numerous murderous gangs raised by the hydra-headed RSS, it makes little difference to the person at the receiving end. These killings (and those of Govind Phansade and Narendra Dabholkar earlier) are but a few of the more talked-about incidents in what has become a continuous barrage of attacks carried out in many forms by the Hindutva-fascists across the country”.
Moreover, it stated, “Particularly since the BJP government came to power, such attacks are taking place almost on a daily basis. Though termed by some as ‘intolerance’, this is part of an all-round attack by the Brahmanical Hindu fascist forces against the people, affecting all spheres of their lives. “These attacks are simultaneously ideological, political, social, religious, ethnic, economic, cultural, juridical, and environmental carried out with violent and non-violent, legal and illegal, constitutional and extra-constitutional means.
According to the author, the targets of Hindutva forces encompass all forms of dissent and non-compliance, particularly directed at organisations and individuals engaged in revolutionary, democratic, secular, and patriotic pursuits. This includes Muslims and Christians, Dalits and Adivasis, women and individuals of other oppressed genders, as well as oppressed nationalities and even segments of the parliamentary opposition. The conclusion emphasises, “In fact, anyone who refuses to fall in line with their Hindutva agenda or opposes their fascist diktats is a potential target. Indeed, at a time like this when the assault of the Hindutva fascists is becoming increasingly conspicuous in all spheres of society and the state, one cannot be faulted for wondering if a vast section of our people are already made to live in the shadows of a veritable ‘Hindu Rashtra’.
Not The First Time For OP Jindal Global University
OP Jindal Global University in Haryana has a history of entanglement in controversies, with past instances of organising events that are deemed anti-national and anti-Hindu. In a recent incident, the Haryana Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Professor Sameena Dalwai, alleging harassment of students and privacy violations. The controversy revolves around accusations of Dalwai displaying students’ profiles from a dating app in a classroom setting. In September, it was reported that Dalwai allegedly accessed a student’s Bumble dating app account during a class session, projecting it onto a Smart TV for all students to see. Video footage and screenshots shared on social media depicted the professor discussing the dating account in detail, purportedly belonging to one of the students. When students refused to reveal their profiles, Dalwai allegedly encouraged them to create fake identities, even suggesting the use of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s image.
Furthermore, on 1 November, the university hosted a lecture titled ‘The History and Politics of the Palestinian Present’ by Professor Achin Vanaik, a retired professor of International Relations and former Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Delhi. Controversy surrounded the event as video clips from the lecture surfaced, revealing alleged antisemitic and anti-Hindu remarks made by Vanaik. Criticisms were also directed at Vanaik for criticising the Modi government’s stance on the conflict in Palestine.
Similarly, on 8 February 2023, professors and students at JGU organised a screening of the BBC’s two-part documentary “India: The Modi Question,” which has been banned in India. The documentary has faced criticism for being perceived as biased against India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the BBC’s perspective being evident.
In 2021, during an online lecture, Professor Shruti Pandey, an Associate Professor at Jindal Global Law School (JGLS), made remarks stating, “My professor Upendra Baxi, who taught in the law school, used to say that every Hindu practices untouchability… Initially, when he said that, I didn’t think so… But it is true, guys. Go back and look at yourself and how you practice untouchability in quiet, invisible ways that we don’t even understand.” She continued to assert that every Hindu practices untouchability and alleged that Hinduism exists due to untouchability. While maintaining her position on untouchability within Hinduism, she publicly praised Islam and its acceptance of widow remarriage, stating, “We know that this is definitely something where Hinduism has a special rule because widow remarriage is much more acceptable in Islam. And sorry for those of you who believe that Islam is an inferior religion because this is one of the ways in which it shows that it is not.” In another incident, Professor Arijeet Ghosh, an Assistant Professor at JGLS, expressed separatist views in an online lecture in 2021, stating, “Yes, it has never happened, and that is why Kashmir always remains a contentious issue… And if you want my opinion, I call Jammu and Kashmir India-occupied-Kashmir, although India tries to say it is Indian territory and Indian-administered-Kashmir.” He further commented on the emotive aspect of the Kashmir issue, citing a quote from Sunny Deol.
On 27 February 2020, left-liberal ideologues at JGU organised a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) at the flagpole area, displaying derogatory posters with statements like “mere room me suttee hai, Modi-Shah kutte hain,” giving it an anti-BJP, anti-RSS spin.
During the nationwide mourning after the attacks of 14 February 2019, where 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives in Pulwama, students at JGU called for a candlelight march. Notably, on 18 February 2019, a candlelight vigil was held at JGU’s flagpole to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Pulwama attacks.
(with inputs from Organiser)
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
