A key meeting of the Indian History Congress (IHC), slated to be hosted by the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) from December 28, has been put off and not cancelled, the varsity said Thursday even as the historians' body dubbed the decision as "unilateral".
The 79th session of the IHC, a professional body of historians, was to be held at the SPPU from December 28-30.
As the issue created a row, the SPPU this evening issued a statement, saying the three-day event has not been cancelled but only postponed.
"We have given them proposal to hold the event in February, March or May next year," said Radhika Sadhan, Professor, Department of History, SPPU, in the statement.
Another varsity official said the decision to postpone the conference was taken due to the shortage of funds and non- availability of adequate accommodation facilities for the delegates.
A brief note posted on the varsity's website Wednesday said, "The scheduled 79th session of the Indian History Congress, December 28-30, 2018, at Savitribai Phule Pune University, is postponed until further notice."
IHC secretary Prof Mahalakshmi Ramakrishnan said they were "shocked and deeply disappointed" by the university's decision.
The secretary said they had a written offer from the university's vice chancellor for holding the 79th session of the IHC at the varsity.
"We received an email from an anonymous "Team IHC" on December 11, which appeared to be emanating from the office of the local secretary in Pune, that due to financial difficulties and lack of arrangements for accommodation of delegates, they have at the last moment taken this unilateral decision," Ramakrishnan said in a note on IHC's website.
On December 12, the website of SPPU carried the announcement of the postponement of IHC, "without the approval of IHC's executive committee", the official noted.
"We have written to the vice chancellor of SPPU expressing our deep anguish and asking him tonsure that the local delegate fee is returned immediately to members," Ramakrishnan said.
"We regret that our members are being put to great inconvenience at this late hour but assure them that we will hold the 79th session at a future date, the dates and venue of which will be conveyed by email to members and on the Indian History Congress website," the note added.
Noted historian S Irfan Habib expressed surprise at the "sudden" decision of the university to postpone the event.
"Shocking to know that Savitri Bai Phule University in Pune suddenly decided not to host the 79th Indian History Congress session.
"IHC session was supposed to be held by the end of this month. Law and order issues are cited as one major reason by the university hosts," Habib said in a tweet.
The IHC is the largest professional and academic body of Indian historians. The organisation promotes and encourages scientific study of Indian history, according to the IHC's website.
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