“Do students have dual identities: citizens and students? How should these identities be prioritised? ” – Punya Bakshi (Independent researcher, TISS alumnus)

Since the BJP came to power in 2014, the education sector has undergone significant changes, impacting the fundamental rights of students. The new education policy 2020 and other policy changes have marginalized students, making education less accessible to many. Additionally, the BJP government has targeted the higher education sector, where critical voices often challenge the government’s exclusionary education policies. Numerous incidents at various universities exemplify these issues. Recently, Ramadas Prini Sivanandan, a member of the Central Executive Committee and joint secretary of the Maharashtra state committee of SFI, was arbitrarily suspended by the administration of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai, where he is pursuing his PhD. He has been barred from entering all TISS campuses in Maharashtra, Telangana, and Assam for two years, with the administration alleging that his activities are anti-national and against national interests. These so-called anti-national activities include attending the ‘Parliament March’ organised by United Students of India and sharing social media posts promoting the documentary ‘Ram Ke Naam.’ The suspension and debarment of Ramadas, a Dalit community member and active student leader, have sparked significant outrage among students and civil society across the country. The United Students of India platform has strongly criticized the arbitrary suspension of Ramadas Prini Sivanandan. Notable figures such as Anant Patwardhan, P. Sainath, Teesta Setalvad, and Prashant Bhushan have condemned TISS’s actions and expressed their solidarity with Ramadas. Student unions and councils across TISS campuses, along with all student organizations except ABVP, have also shown their support. Over 50 organizations have shared their concerns about this arbitrary act and demanded that the suspension be revoked. The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) is a fully funded public university under the Ministry of Education as of 2024. Under these circumstances, the university administration’s tyrannical actions could significantly impact campus democracy and student engagement in discussions and debates. TISS is unique in Maharashtra as the only campus where student union elections take place, fostering a culture of involvement in societal changes and encouraging critical thinking among students. However, the current administration claims that activities organized by students are unlawful and violate law and order of the land. The suspension letter accuses Ramadas of engaging in anti-national activities as a member of the Progressive Students’ Forum (PSF) and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI). The PSF, a student organization based at TISS, actively addresses student issues on campus and other educational developments in the country. It has been affiliated with the SFI since 2021. One of the main accusations in the suspension letter is Ramadas’s involvement in a demonstration organized by the United Students of India in Delhi, which the administration labeled as anti-national and politically motivated. The United Students of India, a coalition of 16 student organizations including the SFI and PSF, held a public demonstration on January 12, 2024, protesting the New Education Policy, demanding guaranteed employment, and addressing hostel issues. The protest featured slogans such as “Save education, Reject NEP. Save India, Reject BJP.” The administration of TISS has made flawed arguments, such as claiming that Ramadas did not have the right to attend the march as a TISS student because it could be interpreted as the opinion of the TISS administration. However, Ramadas attended the protest in his personal capacity, as a central executive committee member of SFI and a member of PSF. Notably, the same administration had issued a circular days before the march, stating they had no connection with the event.

So why are they accusing him now? Additionally, is the identity of any student in our country bound to the university where they study? Don’t students have an independent identity? Aren’t students entitled to the rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution? However, Clause 6 of the guidelines released by the UGC on Students’ entitlement ensures the rights and freedom of expression of students, a crucial aspect that many universities and administrations purposefully overlook. The clause reads as follows “As democratic citizens, the students are entitled to freedom of thought and expression within and outside their institution. The college/university must allow space for free exchange of ideas and public debate so as to foster a culture of critical reasoning and questioning. College/university authorities must not impose unreasonable, partisan or arbitrary restrictions on organising seminars, lectures and debates that do not otherwise violate any law.” Another main allegation by the administration is that Ramadas posted on social media encouraging others to watch the documentary “Ram Ke Naam” directed by Anant Patwardhan on January 22nd. The documentary discusses the campaign by the right-wing Hindu nationalist organization Vishva Hindu Parishad to build a temple to the Hindu deity Ram at the site of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, and the communal violence it triggered. This National Award-winning documentary, honored in 1992 for Best Investigative Documentary, is available on YouTube with a ‘U’ censor certificate for unrestricted public exhibition. It has been screened multiple times on the TISS campus with official permission from various groups, students, and centers in previous years. Therefore, it is not against the law and order of the country. However, the current administration is claiming it is. It is clear that the administration is acting with vested interests. The BJP government is afraid of the truth and seeks to divide the people of India while threatening the very fabric of the country by silencing dissenting voices. The threat to students exercising their democratic rights, as seen in the case of Ramadas, serves as a testament to the communal forces undermining these rights.