The recent appointment of RM Joshi as the registrar of Tata Institute of Social Sciences has been condemned by many students, alumni and faculty members.
File Photo: Facebook/TISS Alumni
Several students, alumni and faculty members of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) have voiced strong objection to a recent appointment in the institute’s administration. Demands have been made by students and alumni that the appointment of RM Joshi as registrar of TISS be revoked, calling him “a very problematic and dangerous person for this important administrative post.” Students have condemned the prejudiced views expressed by Joshi through his personal social media accounts in the recent past. They have pointed out that Joshi has expressed hateful views towards Muslims. “He also has made sexist remarks on women and stands against reservation for marginalised students. He has expressed hateful views regarding critical democratic voices and supported police brutality on students,” a statement from students and alumni opposing Joshi’s appointment said. The objectionable posts shared by Joshi include ones which call for an ‘Aarakshan Mukt Bharat’ (India free of affirmative action), and making light of police violence on students of JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) in Delhi back in January. Students and alumni have stated that Joshi’s appointment “gives greater evidence of saffronisation of university campuses by the central government. Appointment of people conforming to extreme hateful majoritarian beliefs on important posts, like in the case of Hyderabad Central University or Jawaharlal Nehru University, has led to violence and intimidation of student voices. His appointment creates an environment of fear in the campus. It also makes the place insecure for people from marginalised backgrounds, especially students from Muslim minority.” Students also said being a social science research institute, appointing Joshi as Registrar raises questions on the basic principles of TISS, and its commitment to ideals of equality, freedom and justice. A petition to the governing board of TISS demanding revocation of Joshi’s appointment has been signed by 1568 signatories so far, including students, alumni and faculty members of various campuses of TISS including Mumbai, Tuljapur, Hyderabad and Guwahati. View this post on Instagram An Open Letter to the Chairman of Governing Board, TISS Regarding the Appointment of New Registrar **** As you might be aware TISS has appointed the new Registrar. His publicly stated opinions and comments on various issues are blatantly bigoted, sexist, Islamophobic and intolerant of students' dissent, and reveals an openly sycophantic attitude towards the ruling dispensation. It is of great concern and anguish to the student community that such a person has been appointed to the highest administrative position in an institution such as TISS. PSF has written an open letter to the Chairman of the Governing Body, TISS, where we have attempted to explain in detail, how worrying and inappropriate this appointment is. We appeal to the larger student community and student groups in campus to come forward and raise our voice. Let our voices be heard. **Read the full letter from link in the bio** A post shared by Progressive Students' Forum (@psftiss) on Aug 30, 2020 at 3:12am PDT
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