No to free thought? How Gujarat's private universities are cowing down their students

"Don't protest"—that's the message private universities across Gujarat seem to be conveying to their students. A senior professor told me that students at the university where he teaches are required to sign an undertaking promising not to engage in protests. "They simply sign the undertaking and hand it over to the university authorities," he said.

Calling the practice "absolutely shocking," the professor, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, explained that this policy was introduced after several students protested a few years ago on an issue that could have embarrassed the Government of India. While the professor was unsure about the exact issue, an internet search suggests it might have been related to protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019.

"The Gujarat government took the matter seriously and instructed university authorities to ensure that no such protests occur in the future. Not only were the protesting students made to sign undertakings, but it was also decided that every student admitted to the university must sign one," the professor revealed.

He emphasized that peaceful protests and freedom of expression are fundamental rights of students. He added, "I learned about this policy when students mentioned it to me, almost gleefully. I was shocked. Not a single student at the high-profile university where I teach has protested against signing such an undertaking."

When asked whether other universities had implemented similar policies, the professor said he was certain they must have done so, speculating that a circular may have been issued to this effect. "Protests are a way of fostering critical thinking—something students must learn. Expressing opinions, whether collectively or individually, is an essential part of education," he remarked.

When I asked for a copy of the circular, the professor said that no student seemed to have retained one or even taken a photograph of it. "They probably just signed it and submitted it without question. Unfortunately, there is no trace of resistance to this policy, not even anonymously on social media. The spirit of opposing injustice seems to have been subdued."

The dye is caste in Gujarat

I think it was 1994 when I first met Japanese scholar Takashi Shinoda, an Indologist, during my routine visit to the Sardar Patel Institute of Economic and Social Research, Ahmedabad, at that time still known for some quality research. Once headed such academics of highest order such as DT Lakdawala and YK Alagh, the institute has since collapsed – at least this is what I learn from Gujarat’s academic circles, with whom I had developed good rapport before I was shifted to Gandhinagar to report on government affairs for the Times of India in 1997. Unassuming, Shinoda took me to the institute canteen for tea, and told me of his latest area of interest – social mobility and occupational diversification of different castes over several decades. What he told me was indeed of great interest to me – that Gujarat’s “enterprising” Patels, who I thought till then were mainly a farming community, had still not overtaken the Banias in business. However, he underlined, “The way things are happening...

Jay Somnath

Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi This is what happened several decades ago, when I was a small school-going child. Every summer, accompanied with my mother, I would come down from Delhi to spend the two-month-long holiday at my maternal uncle’s place in the posh Panchvati area of Ahmedabad. Each weekend, my uncle would take us for a ride in his grand old black car. I think it was Chevrolet. I would wait eagerly for the weekend, as I had virtually nothing to do for the rest of the days. In the evenings, I mostly play in the open ground with the neighbouring children, but for rest of the time, as if, I was under strict, almost loving, control of my grandma, whom all of the children of the family called Baa. Especially after the dinner, which would be pretty early, she would make it a point to entertain us – mainly me and my cousin – by playing bezique. During one such summer, Baa decided to give us a strong injection of nationalism. She took in her hand Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi’s well-kno...

China's hukou and India's caste: A comparison that ignores the Jianmin

The other day, I saw an interesting article, "Does China have a caste system or is it a figment of imagination of Indians?" It wonders whether "China, the world's manufacturing powerhouse and a socialist state governed by a Communist party", has a birth-based caste system that shapes access to education, healthcare, and opportunity.

Comments

Dr,Suhas Kolhekar,Virologist,Health Activist for Social and Climate Justice.January 16, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Universities are ment for nurturing the Critical thinking in Students.Asking for signign like this and mindlessly signing No to Protest,is simply disgusting.What else does one expect from Tadipar's and Feku's Gujarat.NIRMA is simply brainwashing the Youth in Gujarat.Friend wake up soon and protect your Future by saying a BIG NO ro such compulsions.You do have a Constitutional right to Freedom of expression and to express your Dissent from what the Authorities want to impose on you.Rise up.
Mansee Bal BhargavaJanuary 23, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Gujarat Model is 'All iZZ Bhell' model. I see, you see but we don't see. The 'no protest' is a 'no democracy' alias 'autocracy' policy/approach. Students don't care, parents don't care as they need degree to flee abroad. Institutional spaces are the most targeted by the politics and capitalists to silence the society and buy the system. Democracy is dying slow death in India and Gujarat Model is paving its way across India.

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