Bangalore: 260 Students and 16 staff of St. Aloysius Degree College in Bangalore signed and dashed-off an expressive letter, March 2, of solidarity to democratically elected students of the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, after they fell victim to ‘anti-democratic’ forces and were arrested.
The letter expressing solidarity and support to Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, students and staff members committed to democratic means and methods of struggle says “We are alarmed and concerned at the situation in your campus, especially about the attack on the democratically elected student representatives of the University and the arrest of student leaders that followed “
The letter also appreciates the courage of the students and staff who stood-up against state repression and propaganda politics of the fascist forces at the helm of power in the country.
The Aloysians termed JNU not merely an institution but an idea, applauding the Institution’s stand for the Nehruvian idea of India, of liberalism and inclusion, of diversity and pluralism, calling it a university of individuals with different ideas and ideologies.
Complimenting those who resisted boldly anti-democratic forces, the letter read “Even when the government and the police have accused you and abused you, you have not resorted to violence. We have witnessed in you the spirit of India while your opponents have been undemocratic and un-Indian through resort to violence and propaganda with least respect for truth.
The signatories to the letter also noted “In the last few years we have witnessed in the name of nationalism the imposition of norms for social behaviour, control of dietary habits, moral policing, communal violence and choking of liberal and free thinking”. They bemoaned attacks from the fascist forces and their tendency to bring the universities under the control through sectarian ideologues.
Jesuit Priest Father Ambrose Pinto is presently the Principal of St. Aloysius College of Bangalore Archdiocese.