Manipur Violence: Criminal charges against academicians unacceptable, says JNUTA

Extremely concerned at the trend of using the academic work of scholars as the pretext for bringing criminal charges against them, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA), New Delhi, unequivocally condemned FIRs filed against Dr. Thongkholal Haokip and Dr. Jangkhomang Guite for their academic works on "Anglo-Kuki War 1917-19," which was published few years back.

In its press statement on Monday, JNUTA said it has that learnt one currently serving and one former faculty colleague have been named in an FIR on the frivolous ground of ‘misrepresenting’ or ‘distorting’ history in their academic work.

"JNUTA unequivocally condemns such tactics of intimidation and consequent harassment of scholars especially from marginalized communities. Dr. Haokip and Dr. Guite are exceptional scholars and it is unacceptable that they should be subject to this kind of harassment simply for doing what any academician must do."

JNUTA asserted that academics cannot be subject to the constraint of having to be of any particular line of thinking, and it is also not the job of the police or other such agencies to decide which among alternative academic interpretations conforms to the truth and which does not.

"The State cannot and should not become a party to pushing through any particular narrative. Deviation from these principles, as has happened with the recent FIR against Dr. Haokip and Dr. Guite, not only amounts to violation of the fundamental rights of affected scholars, it would also signal the death knell of any honest, sincere and innovative academic engagement, and also of any culture of academic debate. This can only destroy the foundations of the process of development of knowledge and understanding," JNUTA said.

The teachers association stood with their colleagues and urged upon the Manipur State Government and its agencies to immediately end their harassment and persecution, and not repeat the kind of mistakes which have already resulted in such unfortunate violence and discord in the state.