Delhi University: Teachers' Bodies Unite Against Saffronization, Protest Displacement

New Delhi - The surprising dismissal of Assistant Professor Laxman Yadav from Zakir Hussain College revealed the fact that was being brushed under the rug for a long time now. Teachers from certain ideologies and identities are being forced out of the system to paint the central university spaces with a similar colour. The Democratic United Teachers' Alliance spoke out in a press conference on December 8, 2023, about the significant problem. Many temporary teachers are losing their jobs during the hiring process.

The Mooknayak attended the press conference held at the residence of Professor Ratan Lal, inside the premises of Hindu College, University of Delhi. Various student and teacher-led organizations and individuals came to discuss the degradation in educational quality and the visible faulty system.

The panelists talked about specific cases where this happened, like at IP College, Ramjas College, and Motilal Nehru College. At Motilal Nehru College, the job interviews were done in the University Guest House, breaking the rules. Also, some teachers who had been working for a long time were replaced in different subjects.

Dr. Laxman Yadav expressed how the interview process blindsided him with out-of-context questions. The professor revealed, “The interviewer told me people ‘outside’ call Tulsidas’ writing casteist. To that, I responded by saying that discussion is different, and I would like to talk about the literature and my research around it. They then asked me if I am casteist. The people there exactly knew my nature of work and activism. They deliberately wanted to ruin my interview.” The angry professor further questioned if he was dismissed due to his merit or ideology.

Dr. Shubda Chaudhary, who had an API score of 91, along with excellent international academic credentials, had run into differences with the IP administration when, as a member of the Internal Complaints Committee, she stood up for the victims of sexual harassment when a group of unruly men had barged into the college during a college festival.

Divya, who graduated from the English Department at Ramjas College, Anamika, the Students Union Secretary at Zakir Husain Day College, and Aishwarya, studying Sociology at Hindu College, shared their thoughts on how students felt when their favourite teachers were suddenly taken away. It wasn't just about missing out on good learning; it was also about losing the strong connections they had with their teachers, which was emotionally and mentally tough. They spoke about how people don't talk openly about these issues, and the administration doesn't show understanding, especially after the sad incident with Samarveer's suicide. Aishwarya pointed out the big frustration and anger felt by students at Zakir Husain Day College.

The Mooknayak further spoke to some of the professors who had attended the press conference to understand their share of disdain.

Rudrashish Chakraborty, who is an English professor at Kirorimal College, levied heavy accusations on the principals. Talking to The Mooknayak, the teacher remarked, “In college after college, the name is becoming a criterion to dismiss teachers. Displacement is highest in the colleges where the principals have been appointed by the ruling party, most notably Ramjas, Daulat Ram, Hansraj, and right now IP and Zakir Hussain. If you check the credentials of the principal, you will realize they have been activists of organizations with certain affiliations. It is another form of ethnic cleansing.”

Dr. Maya John, History professor at Jesus and Mary College, elected member of the academic council of Delhi University said, “We stand in solidarity with the group of professors displaced. The illogical interviews of the professors by the respective colleges prove that it is a political calculation to control the thought process at academic spaces. The authorities are deliberately coming against professors with critical thinking or just the staff belonging to certain identities and ideologies. This is very unfortunate because this derails students from becoming informed citizens and degrades the quality of education provided.”

This was the third such joint Press Conference held by various teachers’ groups. The first was held soon after the institutional murder of Samarveer Singh, an ad hoc teacher in Hindu College, who was displaced after serving for six years. The second was held after the shocking mass displacement of 5 out of 7 serving teachers in the Department of Hindi, Satyawati College(E). Last month the D.U.T.A. undertook a week-long campaign of jathas to various colleges to meet teachers and Principals to urge them to work towards the absorption of their serving ad hoc teachers.

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