OVER A CUP OF COFFEE – JNU

OVER A CUP OF COFFEE – JNU

Gopu and Shyam met again for a cup of coffee and as usual exchanged views on all current topics. No doubt JNU figured in their discussion.  There are vociferous clammerings all around India telling free speech is being curtailed and some from the media and also so from called intellectuals who were honoured by awards previously by government and these people even returned their awards. There is another view that these intellectuals and media have an agenda to bring disrepute to the present ruling dispensation at the Centre.  Shyam was very critical of the fact that the award wapasis and some in the media were getting paid by the previous government and their fear is that some of the privileges enjoyed by them would be curtailed by the present government. He also talked about newspaper reports how people throng the Delhi Lutyens colony for free liquor in the evenings, which also served time for discussions among them and felt these would be lost now.  However more than all these Shyam was exercised over the unruly behaviour exhibited in the Jawaharlal Nehru University premises and some calling terrorists and their associates as loyalists to the nation. He told Gopu how on earth anyone could allow anti-India sentiments by the so called students and go to the extent of paying homage to traitors.  Traitors in whichever garb they appear should be dealt with seriously, you cannot differentiate by telling in teaching profession or say lawyers or doctors or even from defence services.  As could be seen of late, there are cases of passing on vital information of the defence services passed on for gain. Gopu too felt, Shyam is not overstating the happenings and the government had to come out with an acceptable policy for recruitment to JNU to eliminate such unwanted elements getting into JNU.  You can criticize a government and serve as a watchdog of society and set a trend for discussions for entire country but how anti-national activities can emanate from so called eminent institution.  Finally, Gopu told Shyam he agreed with many of his thoughts and also said this Institution has to be overhauled, if necessary, should not worry about any accusations of interference.   

This institution established in 1955 with an act of Parliament with Shri G.Parthasarathi as its first Vice-Chancellor cannot be misused for anti-national activities and to be dealt with as such.  Gopu also said there is a current inquiry going on the incidences and one has to wait for the same.  Needless to say, that the charges getting proved should result in dismissals from University of such students.  Many students come to this institution of its reputation in concerned areas of studies and a few cannot disrupt that.  A panel of eminent educationists and nationalists have to study the inquiry report once when it comes out and also see whether the students are going beyond the objective of the Institution.  The time has come to rejuvenate and if necessary take over and thoroughly overhaul the entire system in JNU to set matters right. Gopu and Shyam also agreed the only silver lining during these difficult times is the Supreme Court declaring the Gandhis’ should go to the lower court and present their case in NH case.  Friends decided to do meet again.