Tata Institute of Social Sciences cautions students, faculty of campus unrest

In the backdrop of several cases of violence in university campuses across the country — the recent one being a Left vs Right confrontation in Delhi's Ramjas college — the Director of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai addressed the students and staff members on Monday asking them to 'not get trapped into difficulties'.

Through a letter, which came as an email to all students, faculty members and the administration, Prof S Parasuraman, Director, TISS has warned students against several disruptive elements within and outside the campus.

"I am aware that there are disruptive persons within and outside the campus wanting to create trouble in the name of ideologies. Please be aware of them," states the letter. The letter further gives references to students from the institute participating in several protests in different campuses across the country but later goes on to warn students that the institute "cannot afford to get dragged into such problems".

"We are not in a position to deal with all presumed and real discrimination that may be happening outside our campus. What is happening in Delhi University and JNU are very different. TISS cannot afford to get dragged into problems — DU and JNU are very powerful institutions and they can afford to engage in matters of the kind that is happening there. TISS is a simple institution that is working very hard to stay afloat — do not get it trapped into difficulties," the letter states.

TISS students in recent times have openly voiced their support to the left student groups in Delhi and have also criticised the ABVP strongly. Students from the institute have also shown their support to female students of the University of Mumbai in their fight for access to the library 24/7.

Some students from the institute said that the mail tries to hint at curbing these kind of protests and dissent on and off campus.

"TISS is known as the most inclusive and one of the most politically charged institutes in Mumbai where opinions of each and every kind can be expressed. This indirect attempt to stop students from being involved in student protests is scary," said a research scholar.

Prof S Parasuraman said that the idea behind the letter was to ensure that students are able to study without falling into trouble.

"TISS follows a very rigorous academic schedule. Students can raise their own concerns and the institute has the mechanisms to address them. However, interfering into the issues of other universities might land students in trouble which can affect their academics, something that should be of primary concern," he said.