PM must intervene and lift ban on Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle (APSC) of IIT–Madras

Freedom of Speech and Expression is our fundamental right

An Open letter to the Prime Minister

By Kiran Deep

Freedom is our soul nature. Freedom is what we all need. The colleges and Universities are the places where the students can feel freedom of speech and expression at extreme and this is our fundamental right. How can we expect dynamic, intellectual and honest leaders unless we give them freedom to express their views freely?

At time when India is making its marks at international level due to advancement in Technology such as launch of Mangalyan on September 2014 by ISRO into Mars surface with amount less than even Hollywood movie budget and its success in its first attempt only and in other sectors. And also as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been visiting different countries to get the investment and establish bilateral relation. The decision to ban Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle (APSC) by the Indian Institute of Technology–Madras (IIT) management has damaged the reputation of the India and also hurt many people all over India.

The decision of de recognition of the Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle (APSC) by the IIIT-Madras is completely unacceptable and beyond the normal understanding of people. The reason to ban APSC is seems to be completely political as the APSC was vocally criticise the Prime Minister Modi and the BJP policies. The role of Human Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani is also not appreciable as she has acted hurriedly on an anonymous complaint by not giving much thought about the student’s rights. The Minister should have played the positive role by interacting with the students of APSC or directing the management of IIT Madras to hold meeting with the students in this regard to clarify the issue.

The Issue of freedom of speech and expression is a matter of great concern with the rise in the incidents of violence against those who are taking chance to expose the wrong doings in the society across the world.  Perumal Murugan writer of one Part woman had to face a lot of harassment following his book, bloggers and cartoonists were killed,  Edward Snowden has to live in exile and is fighting for his safety after he leaked the documents. The founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has to struggle a lot of  for his safety and security after several expose . To much aghast new whistle blower act in India too do not have much safety for whistle blowers.

 Only Freedom can make difference in the life of people and allow them to live the way they wanted to live and can express them freely.Now it’s high time that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi should intervene to end the dispute. As the banning of APSC has damaged the image of the central government not only among the students across the country but at International level too. The IITs are much respected institutes not only India but all around the World, If such thing can happen in IIT Madras then what can we expect from the management of the educational institutes situated in remote areas. Education means freedom but irony is that we are not giving freedom to students in Educational institutes only.

Jai Hind

EOM