Mita Mukherjee

As many as 261 academics from institutes in India and around the world including Noam Chomsky have sought intervention of President Droupadi Murmu, against the decision of Visva-Bharati University to terminate the services of a professor of economics of the central university.

In a letter written to the President who is the Visitor of the Visva-Bharati, the academics said the order terminating Sudipta Bhattacharyya, professor of economics went “against the principles of natural justice.

The signatories in the letter include, besides Chomsky a public intellectual, linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, social critic, political activist and an instate professor at the Massachusetts Institute of technology (MIT) and economist Prabhat Patnaik and Amit Bhaduri.

“The termination order is indicative of how the norms, laws and procedures governing Visva-Bharati are being violated under the leadership of its current vice-chancellor. As the Visitor of Visva-Bharati and the custodian of statutes and ordinances of the university, we urge you to kindly intervene in this matter to ensure that this institute of national importance that was founded by Rabindranath Tagore continues to foster the spirit of ‘where the mind is without fear’ instead of descending into a saga of vendetta, intimidation and highhandedness by its authorities,” read the letter.

The academics said in the letter that no proper inquiry was held before issuing the termination order.

“It is clear that no proper inquiry was conducted by the university authorities before initiating draconian disciplinary action against a university professor and office-bearer of the faculty association. Neither there has been a show cause notice issued to the professor concerned. These violations of standard procedure point towards malice and arbitrariness,” the letter read.

Bhattacharyya who had led several protests by students and teachers during the tenure of the present vice-chancellor Biudyut Chakrabarty,  is the president of the Visva-Bharati Faculty Association.

He was sacked on December 22 last year on charges of gross misconduct. Visva- Bharati acting registrar Ashok Mahato mentioned in the letter that the decision was taken by the varsity’s executive council.

But according to a large section of people in the varsity including students and teachers, Bhattacharyya has been penalized because he had brought to fore several irregularities and wrongdoings of Chakrabarty. The campus had been witnessing protests from teachers and students since 2021.

Chakrabarty, on several occasions, had been accused of his  attempts to suppress voices of dissent.    

 Bhattacharyya, in 2021 lodged a complaint with the Prime Minister and varsity chancellor Narendra Modi, varsity’s then visitor and President Ram Nath Kovind and other senior officials questioning the appointment of the principal of one of the schools under the varsity.

The tenure of Chakrabarty who assumed chair in 2018 has been marked by several controversies, following suspensions and removals of teachers and non-teaching employees and action against students for raising their voice against irregularities.

Bhattacharyya has petitioned Calcutta High Court against the decision, where a hearing is scheduled this month, a source said.

Also Read: Teachers’ bodies protest against undemocratic sacking of professor by Visva Bharati