Latest news with #StanSwamyMemorialLecture
Hindustan Times
6 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
6 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.'
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
St Xavier's cancels Stan Swamy Memorial talk after ABVP letter
Mumbai: St Xavier's College cancelled the annual Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture, scheduled on Saturday evening, after a letter from the ABVP, an RSS-affiliated students' organisation, opposed it. The lecture on 'Migration for Livelihood: Hope Amidst Miseries' was to be delivered virtually by Father Prem Xalxo, an Indian Jesuit, who is also an associate professor at the Gregorian University in Rome. The lecture was cancelled as "the college wished to avoid disruptions during the lecture and also unnecessary controversy over the issue, which is not even central to the college's educational offerings". It was the fourth edition of the memorial lecture. Stating that controversies like this do not create a healthy and fair impression about the quality and ethos of Indian education and the aptitude and openness of the very gifted student bodies throughout the country, Rector of the college, Fr Keith D'Souza, said, "From 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Knee pain treatment prices might surprise you Knee pain| search ads Find Now Undo " The lecture, now cancelled, was organised by the college's Department of Inter-Religious Studies, an extra-curricular unit on the campus, which conducts several events throughout the year. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The letter from ABVP alleged that Father Swamy was accused in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon violence case and had been arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, an anti-terrorism law and was also linked to banned Maoist outfits. The students' organisation demanded the cancellation of the lecture, failing which the organisation would initiate widespread student agitation, file petitions with the UGC, among other measures. The college, though, said the memorial lecture was organised to commemorate the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on Aug 9. "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," said Fr D'Souza. "Our annual Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture has been delivered by reputed scholars who have done research in the area of the history and development of indigenous peoples across the globe. The topic this year was on the theme of migration," he said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Scroll.in
6 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Mumbai: St Xavier's College cancels Stan Swamy lecture after ABVP protests
St Xavier's College in Mumbai has cancelled its annual Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture, which was to be held on Saturday, after protests by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, reported The Free Press Journal. The ABVP is the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Swamy was among a group of 16 lawyers and activists who had been accused of instigating caste violence between Maratha and Dalit groups in the Bhima Koregaon case in 2018 and was charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. He died on July 5, 2021, nearly nine months after he was arrested. The 84-year-old had suffered from several ailments, including Parkinson's disease and had contracted the coronavirus infection at the Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai. In December 2022, a report by a United States-based digital forensics firm said that a hacker planted evidence on a device owned by Swamy. On Tuesday, the ABVP unit in Mumbai said a group of its workers had met with the principal of St Xavier's College and submitted a letter demanding the 'immediate cancellation' of the Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture. 'ABVP firmly believes that organising a lecture in memory of a person accused in the Elgar Parishad–Bhima Koregaon case, facing UAPA charges for links with banned Maoist groups, is an attempt to glorify urban Naxalism on campus,' said the Hindutva group. It also urged the authorities in Maharashtra to take 'strict action' against such events being held under the 'guise of academic freedom'. Of the 16 persons who have been arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case, seven have secured bail over the last six years, namely Gautam Navlakha, Sudha Bharadwaj, Anand Teltumbde, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Varavara Rao and Shoma Sen.
