JNU professor invited to TISS Mumbai for lecture replaced
TISS director S Parasuraman told the gathering that Kumar cancelled his visit due to a delay as he was stuck in Delhi traffic and that he promised to visit the institute some other time.A JNU professor invited to deliver the 12th Ambedkar Memorial Lecture at TISS in Mumbai was replaced at the last minute. The cancellation was attributed to unforeseen circumstances.
Prof Vivek Kumar, who was to give a lecture on “Appropriation of Dr B R Ambedkar in the contemporary era”, was reportedly assaulted by right-wing groups during a symposium at Gwalior’s Bal Bhawan recently. Kumar told he couldn’t make it to Mumbai because he missed his flight.
“I was held up and missed my flight. No one told me not to come for the event,” Kumar said.
“I am a teacher who espouses the teachings of Ambedkar. Do those who claim to oppose me not believe in Ambedkar?” he asked.
The TISS management replaced Kumar’s lecture with one by in-house Prof Avatthi Ramaiah, who spoke on Ambedkar’s idea of nationalism.
Many students didn’t know Kumar was not coming. Before the event, a member of the organising committee announced the cancellation.
TISS director S Parasuraman told the gathering that Kumar cancelled his visit due to a delay as he was stuck in Delhi traffic and that he promised to visit the institute some other time.
Parasuraman said: “He (Kumar) was supposed to come from Ghaziabad to Delhi and from there he was to take a flight to Mumbai but he missed it as he could not reach the airport on time,” he said, adding that Kumar was to reach the city on Saturday morning.
Sources said the TISS management has been cautious after reports that some groups, including the ABVP, planned to target the premier Mumbai institute after JNU.
“Members of the organising committee were kept in the dark about Kumar’s absence. We believe the cancellation of his speech is because of what is happening in the country…,” a student leader from TISS said.
Trombay police said at least 50 personnel had been deployed on the campus. Police said they too were unaware about the cancellation.
“We were told by TISS on Friday evening that Professor Kumar had been invited. But we do not know why his lecture has been cancelled. It may be an internal decision,” said Shashikant Satav, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone VI.
Yashwant Zagade, organiser of the lecture, declined to comment. “We have successfully held the Amdedkar Memorial Lecture. This is all that I have to say. Changes in programme happen everywhere,” Zagade said.
