Manonmaniam Sundaranar University located in Tirunelvi, Tamil Nadu has withdrawn controversial author Arundhati Roy’s book ‘Walking with the Comrades’ after objections raised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student organization part of the larger Sangh Parivar.
The ABVP in its letter said “MSU is an important institution where innumerable scholars and intellectuals have studied. Arundhati Roy’s book ‘Walking with the Comrades’ has been included in the syllabus for MA English (third semester), as part of Unit V (commonwealth literature). This is about the arms training given to the Maoists, who are considered as anti-nationals. It is highly regrettable that this book has been in the syllabus for the past three years. All these years Maoists thoughts and ideologies have been taught to the young students. The book instils anti-national sentiments in young fertile minds and encourages terrorism. We urge the MSU to condemn the inclusion of this book and withdraw the book immediately. The people behind this ulterior move should be asked to apologise. We will organise protests if it is not withdrawn from the curriculum.”
The Vice Chancellor K Pitchumani had formed a committee after they received complaints from ABVP organizers last week. The committee comprising of academic deans and board of studies members decided to withdraw the book as they agreed that it may be inappropriate to teach a controversial book for students.
The book was made a part of the syllabus by the university in 2017 under the Commonwealth Literature category for BA English language and literature students in the third semester.
It has now been replaced with M Krishnan’s My Native Land: Essays on Nature.
Arundhati Roy is known for being a left-wing extremism and an Islamic terror apologist peddling anti-Hindu narratives. The book, is an account of the face-off between Maoists and the Indian government.
ABVP Dakshin Tamil Nadu joint secretary Vignesh was quoted saying they were shocked to find a book that infused Maoist ideologies and terrorism upon which they had met the Vice Chancellor and requested him to withdraw the book.