Intellectuals urge Kalam to intervene in Vadodara arrest case

Disturbed by the arrest of a student of Maharaj Sayajirao University in Vadodara, academicians Deepak Nayyar and Romila Thapar have urged President APJ Abdul Kalam to take action through the governor to protect artistic freedom. The fine arts student, Chandra Mohan, was arrested after a controversial art exhibition.

Describing such incidents as detrimental to institutes of learning and academic freedom, their letter to Kalam said, "There is no way in which these actions can be justified. On the contrary, such actions become precedents and are thereby conducive to the destruction of the university as an institute of learning and of academic freedom."

"We address the letter to you both as the President of the country and in your capacity as visitor to various premier universities and request you to intervene in this matter, if necessary through the governor, and insist upon an immediate legal reading of both actions," they urged the President.

The student was released from custody yesterday.

Alex Mathew, a reader in fine arts at the University of Hyderabad and a Masters in the subject from MS University, told Business Standard, "The MS University administration seems to be hand-in-glove with the right-wing forces. The government should take up responsibility for the event and ensure that such incidents are not repeated."