Student organizations have expressed their strong disapproval of the suspension of Malayali PhD student Ramadas Prini Sivanandan from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)
The decision came following alleged accusations that the institution was unjustly penalizing him for alleged anti-national activities.
Who is Ramadas Prini Sivanandan as TISS suspends PhD student, biography, age, cast and education
For the unfamiliar, Sivanandan, a 30-year-old Dalit Hindu student from Wayanad, was suspended by TISS for 2 years due to several incidents. Ramadas Prini Sivanandan, a PhD student from its School of Development Studies, was suspended through an order dated April 18 after a showcause notice was served to him in March.
These incidents include the screening of contentious documentaries like Anand Patwardhan’s ‘Ram Ke Naam’ and a documentary about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sivanandan, is a Central Executive Committee member of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) which is linked to the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
#Mumbai The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has suspended Ramadas Prini Sivanandan, a PhD student for two years.
We strongly condemn this action and demand that his suspension be revoked as soon as possible. pic.twitter.com/hWYXp16s0n
— The Dalit Voice (@ambedkariteIND) April 21, 2024
He has been accused of Inviting controversial guest speakers for a Bhagat Singh Memorial Lecture held on campus and participating in a protest in Delhi organized by the Progressive Student Forum.
In a statement, the United Students of India, a coalition of 16 major student organizations in the country, remarked, “The actions taken by the TISS administration against students seem to be a direct attempt to curry favor with the ruling BJP.”
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has banned Sivanandan, a doctoral candidate in Development Studies, from entering any of its campuses in Mumbai, Tuljapur, Hyderabad, and Guwahati.
What Did the Vice President Say?
In response to this ban, Nitheesh Narayan, the Vice President of the Student Federation of India (SFI), made a statement expressing solidarity. Emphasizing his views Narayan remarked, “This shows the direction in which India is moving.
“It also underscores why left-wing leadership must stand up against the surveillance imposed by the Sangh Parivar.” In its official notification, TISS described Sivanandan’s conduct as “very serious.”
The notice states that his actions suggests he is “intentionally and deliberately engaging in unlawful activities under the guise of freedom of speech and expression.”
The notice from TISS dated April 18 further added, “Your actions are not in line with the country’s interests. As a public institution, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) cannot allow or condone activities by its students that are anti-national and tarnish the country’s reputation.”
However, Sivanandan has indicated that he intends to appeal the suspension.
IN SOLIDARITY WITH RAMADAS PRINI SIVANANDAN
BAPSA stands in solidarity with the Dalit Ph.D scholar Ramadas, who was suspended for two years by the manuwadi admin of TISS, Mumbai for alleged "anti-national" activities. This is a case of institutional bias against Dalit voices. pic.twitter.com/wGKrvrdEsW
— BAPSA (@BAPSA_JNU) April 20, 2024
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