Historian's office in India vandalized by activists
NEW DELHI: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad activists ransacked the office of Delhi University’s History Department head S.Z.H. Jafri on Monday protesting against certain portions of the B.A. History (Honours) syllabus.
The activists allegedly manhandled Prof. Jafri and hurled abuses at him before vandalising the office. They also allegedly threw stones into classrooms and broke doors, windows and furniture of the Department on the North Campus.
Some groups have raised objections to inclusion of an essay by scholar A.K. Ramanujan titled “Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translation” for the course on “Ancient Indian Culture”. They claim it contained “objectionable” references to Hindu gods.
Vikas Dahiya, the State joint secretary of ABVP who led the activists, alleged: “Our delegation had gone to meet Prof. Jafri to hand over a memorandum. We told him that the Department must understand the sentiments of Hindus. He threw the memorandum at my face which infuriated the activists.”
However, Prof. Jafri termed it a “sheer lie” and said there was no provocation at all. “They came to my room and sat down. There was no talk of any memorandum. They said they wanted to speak to me in front of the media. The moment some of television channels entered my room, the activists began vandalising my room, threw the official files and manhandled me. I have reported the matter to the Vice-Chancellor,” Prof. Jafri said.
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The activists allegedly manhandled Prof. Jafri and hurled abuses at him before vandalising the office. They also allegedly threw stones into classrooms and broke doors, windows and furniture of the Department on the North Campus.
Some groups have raised objections to inclusion of an essay by scholar A.K. Ramanujan titled “Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translation” for the course on “Ancient Indian Culture”. They claim it contained “objectionable” references to Hindu gods.
Vikas Dahiya, the State joint secretary of ABVP who led the activists, alleged: “Our delegation had gone to meet Prof. Jafri to hand over a memorandum. We told him that the Department must understand the sentiments of Hindus. He threw the memorandum at my face which infuriated the activists.”
However, Prof. Jafri termed it a “sheer lie” and said there was no provocation at all. “They came to my room and sat down. There was no talk of any memorandum. They said they wanted to speak to me in front of the media. The moment some of television channels entered my room, the activists began vandalising my room, threw the official files and manhandled me. I have reported the matter to the Vice-Chancellor,” Prof. Jafri said.