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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
St Xavier's cancels Stan Swamy lecture after ABVP objects
MUMBAI: St Xavier's College in Mumbai cancelled its annual Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture, scheduled for Saturday, following protests by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Stan Swamy (HT Archives) (Diwakar Prasad/ Hindustan Times) The lecture, organised by the college's Department of Inter-Religious Studies (DIRS), was to be delivered virtually by Fr Prem Xalxo, associate lecturer at the Faculty of Theology in Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. The topic this year was 'Migration for Livelihood: Hope Amidst Miseries'. In a letter to the college principal, the ABVP demanded the event's cancellation, objecting to it being held in memory of Father Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest accused in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case and charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Swamy was among several human rights activists, scholars, intellectuals and others jailed for alleged naxal activities as part of the case. A tribal rights activist, Swamy was arrested in 2020 and died in custody in July 2021 while awaiting trial. The ABVP alleged that Fr Swamy had links with banned organisations and said that honouring him through an academic platform could 'glorify' a person accused of anti-national activities. 'It is unfortunate that reputed institutions like St Xavier's are seen promoting such narratives,' said ABVP Mumbai Secretary Prashant Mali. 'We have immense respect for academic freedom, but when such events are used to whitewash the image of someone accused of working against the nation, it becomes unacceptable.' Mali added that the ABVP was not opposing the topic of the lecture but the choice of dedicating it to Swamy's memory. 'We have no objection to discussions on migration or livelihood challenges. But associating these discussions with the name of someone accused of aiding banned organisations sends the wrong message to students. Educational institutions must remain neutral and not allow themselves to be platforms for any ideology that goes against national interest,' he claimed. Following warnings from the student body, the college decided to cancel the lecture. Responding to the criticism, college rector Father Keith D'Souza said the DIRS was an extracurricular unit on campus that organises a variety of lectures and events throughout the year. He said the department's core aim was to promote dialogue and mutual respect. 'The underlying motive of the DIRS is 'respecting the other', in keeping with a foundational Indic civilisational attitude,' he said. Father D'Souza also stressed that Fr Stan Swamy had been accused but never convicted. 'As per Indian criminal jurisprudence, a person is innocent unless proven guilty. While we respect other perspectives and concerns, we hope to elicit a reciprocal attitude of respect from others as well,' he said.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
St. Xavier's College cancels annual Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture after protest by ABVP
St. Xavier's College on Saturday called off its annual Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture after the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested against the event, alleging it glorified a person who was an accused in the Elgar Parishad–Bhima Koregaon case. The decision came days after the right-wing students' group wrote to the college administration. The lecture, hosted by the department of inter-religious studies (DIRS), was to have been delivered virtually by Fr Prem Xalxo, associate lecturer, faculty of theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He was scheduled to speak on the topic – 'Migration for Livelihood: Hope Amidst Miseries.' But, earlier this week, the ABVP wrote a letter to the college administration, strongly opposing the event, and demanded action from the state government against the event. 'This lecture glorifies a person who was declared as the main accused in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case, and against whom charges have been filed under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967,' said the letter. Father Stan Swamy was a Jesuit priest and a tribal rights activist based in Jharkhand. He was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on October 7, 2019, and stayed in state custody till he died at a Mumbai hospital in 2021. Stating that these lectures are usually held on August 9 on the occasion of World Indigenous Day, Rector Fr. Keith DSouza, from St. Xavier's College, said, 'Our annual Stan Swamy memorial lecture has been delivered by reputed scholars who have done research in the area of history and development of indigenous peoples across the globe. The topic this year was on the theme of migration. While the lectures are on several themes related to indigenous life—which no one has objected to—we understand that the contentious issue is mainly about the nomenclature of the lecture series, named after Stan Swamy. However, from a Jesuit point of view, Fr Stan Swamy was an Indian citizen who was accused, but not as yet convicted of his alleged crimes till his demise. As per our Indian criminal jurisprudence, a person is innocent unless proven guilty.' Highlighting that the underlying motif of the DIRS is 'respecting the other', Fr D Souza further said, 'While we respect other perspectives and concerns, we hope to elicit a reciprocal attitude of respect from others as well. A controversy like this does not augur well for international higher educational relations.'
