Chennai: The de-recognition of Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle at IIT-Madras may have led to protests, but students have adopted a stoic response to the raging controversy. With a major chunk of undergraduate students currently on a holiday, a cross-section of those remaining, that includes postgraduates and doctoral students, say it is depressing that the right to free speech is being curtailed.
“I feel that when the freedom of expression is gagged, questioned or controlled, it is no more a democratic society,” said Jagan, a master’s student. Another student Shiva Kumar, pursuing a dual degree, echoed Jagan’s comments and added that ‘everyone has the right to voice his or her opinion.’ Nevertheless, Shiva Kumar was quick to point out that ultimately it is the individual students who need to decide on his/her own political stance based on the merits of the discussion. He said, “I believe that while they are free to air their views and initiate a debate, the students must take a call on their own and not be swayed.”
Significantly, it was only after an initial complaint from ‘anonymous’ students, claiming that the pamphlets intended to incite hatred among students belonging to different castes and religions, that the Union HRD ministry wrote to IIT-Madras leading to the de-recognition.
