An FIR has been filed against a teacher of Lucknow University for allegedly making obscene comments on Hindu seers. The issue has sparked off an outrage with several civil society members and activists condemning the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad for its “aggressive display of.. intolerance”.
Ravi Kant Chandan, an associate professor in the department of Hindi, in a debate on a social media platform on May 9, had quoted from the book of Pattabhi Sitaramayya, an activist from Andhra Pradesh, on the the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque.
Quoting from Sitaramayya’s book Feathers and Stones, Chandan had said that when Mughal emperor Aurangzeb passed through Kashi, the wife of one of his Hindu courtiers had been found in the basement of the temple, shorn of all her ornaments and fearful. “An enraged Aurangzeb had then ordered that such a place could not be the abode of God and thus must be razed. The lady in question was however sad at the destruction of the temple, saying that her condition was not the fault of the temple but of priests and thus the place of worship must be re-built. Aurangzeb then ordered a mosque to be constructed on the ruins of the temple,” he said.
Chandan’s remarks had drawn the ire of members of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh. On Tuesday they reached the university, heckled and threatened Chandan who had to take refuge in the office of the university’s proctor.
In the evening, almost simultaneously, a group of citizens issued a statement in support of Chandan, while the ABVP lodged an FIR against him.
The statement of support read, “We condemn in the strongest possible terms, the death threats being issued publicly, and abuses being heaped on Dr. Ravi Kant, an Academician, well known Dalit Intellectual… All (he) did was to narrate a story from a book (he) said that he is calling it a story because Patabhi Sitaramaiya has not quoted a source…Those baying for (his) blood are the workers belonging to the ABVP...We demand that… the atmosphere of debate and dissent, so crucial for an institute of learning and essential for a democratic society be restored immediately and Dr. Ravi Kant and his family be provided all necessary protection…We view this aggressive display of the ABVP as yet another example of the intolerance and majoritarian sectarianism and violence that is increasingly becoming the norm all over the country, especially in BJP ruled States. We demand that element giving public calls for extermination and annihilation be reigned in immediately, if we wish to be counted among the comity of civilized nations” (sic.)
The FIR lodged under Sections 153-A, 504 and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 166 of the Information Technology (amendment) Act, 66 alleges that Chandan’s remarks are an attempt to disturb communal harmony and that he had made “undignified” comments on Hindu seers.
Chandan’s social media post which had a screenshot of the book from which he had quoted was called out for propagating misinformation. His remarks were alleged to be spoiling the image of the university and its students.
Meanwhile, Chandan’s supporters have said that the police refused to file an FIR against those who threatened him.
