Hindu Vivek Kendra
A RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE PROMOTION OF HINDUTVA
   
 
 
«« Back
 

MAKARAND R PARANJAPE: Free speech an 'undesirable visitor' to a university in Ontario

Author: Makarand R Paranjape
Publication: Dailymail.co.uk
Date: May 7, 2017
URL:   http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-4482608/Free-speech-undesirable-visitor-Carleton-University.html

Makarand R Paranjape pens an open letter to Carleton University after being accused of 'hate speech' and stopped from speaking on campus on the topic, 'Drishti: Is There an Indian Way of Seeing?'.
 
Dear, Roseann O'Reilly Runte, President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

I hope you are not as startled by this open letter as I was on the afternoon of May 3, 2017, at the enforced cancellation of my recording with Adjunct Professor, Dr Harsha V Dehejia, at the Carleton University Audio Visual Centre.

A member of your History department, Assistant Professor Chinnaiah Jangam, brow-beat Dr Dehejia and administrator Lisa Runge-Faubert, Supervisor, Media Production Centre, into shutting down the programme.

His reason? I was an undesirable visitor to your campus.

Protest

I have detailed what happened in my protest letter, but briefly, I was invited all the way from India to record a conversation with Dr Dehejia on 'Drishti: Is There an Indian Way of Seeing?' on the afternoon of May 3, 2017.

The hour-long discussion was to be shown to students of the Carleton University Hinduism course.

My first such recording with Dr Dehejia was on 'The Reality of Myths in Indian Traditions' 15 years ago.

Many of these presentations are widely available, not only through Carleton University TV, but also on YouTube.

They have been viewed and appreciated as resources in the understanding of India and Indic thought.

I have also collaborated with Dr Dehejia in co-editing a book and coordinating several international conferences.

Indeed, last year, when I spoke on Gandhi in Prof Noel Salmond's class at Carleton, the same gentleman attended my talk, later coming to lunch with us.

There was no indication then that he objected to my views or my talk.

So how did I suddenly become the target of his implacable ire? In fact, his MPhil is from JNU, where I have been Professor of English for over 16 years.

That is another reason I don't want to name and shame him publicly.

Yesterday afternoon Asst Prof Jangam fulminated against me in front of the administrator, insisting that the recording be cancelled.

Apparently, he accused me of 'hate speech.' He demanded that no university facility or resource be extended to me.

When asked if invited speakers to Carleton University could be prevented from participating in events because their views didn't match those of their critics, Asst Prof Jangam reportedly retorted that he didn't care; he wouldn't let the event go through.

When Dr Dehejia offered to call me into the room to respond to the Asst Prof Jangam's allegations, the latter refused, 'I saw him outside, but I don't want to talk to him.'

I have been visiting Carleton University, giving talks, participating in seminars and academic meetings since 2002, years prior to his hire.

I am the author/editor of over 40 books, with over 150 academic papers to my name, besides being an invited speaker in over 50 countries, with visiting appointments and fellowships in internationally reputed institutions.

Never in my career spanning over three decades have I been accused of hate-mongering or stopped from speaking on a campus anywhere in the world.

Accusations

I would, therefore, like to ask: What is the source of the Asst Prof Jangam's objection and accusations?

It seems to me that the answer is simple: he sees me as an ideological opponent and wants to shut me down.

If the Asst Prof Jangam believes that I was guilty of 'hate speech,' what evidence did he offer? Such a charge is very serious indeed; it is an indictable offence in several countries, including Canada.

'Hate speech,' as commonly understood, advocates genocide or publicly incites hatred against an identifiable group. Shouldn't the Asst Prof Jangam prove his claim against me or offer a written apology?

Furthermore, did he follow university procedures to stop the recording, which was approved and for which I had an official invitation?

If not, are his threats and intimidations sufficient grounds to halt a scheduled university activity?

Given that our topic was totally unrelated to Asst Prof Jangam's political disposition, wasn't it merely a tactic to disrupt a legitimate academic event?

Will this not serve as a precedent for anyone to disrupt the exchange of ideas without due procedure, notice, or adducing evidence of wrongdoing on the part of an invited speaker?

Dishonour

This unprecedented attack has harmed me immensely. I feel dishonoured, my rights violated, and my reputation tarnished.

Due process was not offered, no evidence provided for the accusations hurled against me by the Asst Prof Jangam, nor any opportunity to refute them or to offer my rejoinder.

Wild allegations, hearsay, and politically-motivated defamation, even tweets on social media, were used to attack and tarnish my hardearned reputation.

Shall we allow such rabble rousers to sabotage what we do as academics?

Our work requires careful, reasoned argument, backed by evidence, civil debate, and exchange of differing views.

Just before my visit to Canada, I encountered another cabal of 'caste crusaders' at the Queen Mary University, London, India-haters and India-baiters they seemed to be.

I was shocked to hear one tenured academic at London School of Economics say, 'How are you allowed to get away with such views on a Leftist campus?'

I regret troubling you over this, but the issues at stake are of immense importance, not only because my own professional reputation has been besmirched, but because such intimidation on your campus and on campuses all over the world affects all of us.

It would seem that a rising tide of intolerance from various ends of the ideological spectrum is threatening the very meaning and existence of universities in the free world.

Should we not stand together against its machinations?

Yours sincerely, Makarand R Paranjape
 
«« Back
 
 
 
  Search Articles
 
  Special Annoucements