The abrupt cancellation of Muktiparv, an event dedicated to the works of Dr B R Ambedkar scheduled on Sunday , sparked outrage among students at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune. The cancellation was reportedly declared following objections from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Students raised concerns about academic freedom and institutional autonomy at one of the country’s premier educational institutes.
A series of art and literature events have been underway at IISER Pune since the beginning of April. One of the main events was scheduled for April 13 where scholars from various domains were to speak on the works of Dr B R Ambedkar. However, the institute’s administration cancelled this event, leaving organisers and participants in disarray.
A press statement issued by IISER stated, “to the concerns raised and to avoid controversy, we took the decision of not hosting the planned external speakers at this time. The institute remains committed to upholding the ideals set forth by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar as we observe Ambedkar Jayanti this weekend and through the year.”
The speakers included Nazima Parveen, Deepali Salve, and Smita Patil, who are academicians and experts working in the areas of social equality and caste and gender dynamics and were supposed to speak about the dynamics of caste, economics and gender.
ABVP Maharashtra had voiced their opposition on X stating, “Demanding to ban speakers associated with Maoists, radicals and from Tukde Tukde gang invited to Muktiparv event organised at IISER, Pune.”
An ABVP press statement read, “Last year during the Muktiparv, speakers had made statements which had hurt the sentiments of the people. There is a chance that this year’s speaker’s statements might cause law and order problems, and they would try to divide the society based on religion.”
“We have been scheduling programmes since the last week in March. Due permissions were also taken for the same, we successfully conducted an art exhibition last week,” a student told The Indian Express.
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Students reported that tensions began to rise after the Satrangi club’s Pride March was held at the IISER campus on April 6. By April 10, ABVP representatives had approached both the institute’s director and Himmat Jadhav, DCP Pune, demanding the Muktiparv event be cancelled.
“ABVP is a student organisation of RSS which works to spread terror in different campuses of India. And this RSS who left no stone unturned in dividing the country on the basis of caste and religion are today accusing those who hold the country together and they are not just making false allegations but also warning through ABVP that if anyone in this country doesn’t listen to them then they will resort to violence and for this we can see the incident of cancellation of the program to be held in IISER on the birth anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on 13th April,” Deepali Salve, one of the speakers, told The Indian Express.
“This program was opposed by ABVP because some fearless women are raising their voice for their community. Perhaps RSS/ BJP are so intoxicated with power that they have forgotten that the country will be run by the Constitution and not by Manusmriti. Therefore, the Constitution of this country gives us the right to express our views irrespective of our caste, religion, and gender,” Salve added.
The IISER student council said that complaints sent to the director characterised the invited speakers as “Dalit activists, journalists, and feminists who organised the ‘Night is Ours’ protest”.
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Students condemned the cancellation, noting the event had received permission before being abruptly halted. “Before cancellation of the event, we as organisers were kept uninformed, and the move taken is completely baseless as no concrete reasons have been stated when asked to the director… such lack of communication from the IISER administration is concerning,” another student stated.
“The institute’s succumbing to such external forces is completely unacceptable, and it sets a perilous precedent for future events happening on campus. An authoritarian presence is felt at academic establishments where academic freedom has been seen compromised as per the will of external factors,” the student council stated.