Hindu-Brahmanical groups on Tuesday allegedly threatened a Bahujan Professor of Lucknow University over his comments on the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque controversy, reported NDTV.
Visuals from the Lucknow University shared on Social media showed members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s student wing ABVP raising violent slogans against Professor Ravi Kant Chandan and demanding action against him for the comments.
In an online debate hosted by Satya Hindi, a Hindi news platform, Professor Ravi Kant while citing references from a book called “Feathers and Stones” by Pattabhi Sitaramayya, described one of the reasons behind the demolition of the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir.
For the unversed, Pattabhi Sitaramayya was an independent activist and political leader from Andhra Pradesh. He wrote Feathers and Stones as a prison diary when he was imprisoned by the British in Ahmednagar during the freedom struggle.
What did the Professor say about the Kashi Vishwanath Temple?
Explaining the alleged circumstances under which a temple at the disputed spot was destroyed and a mosque erected in its place, the Professor said that a rape took place inside the temple complex when Aurangzeb was passing through Varanasi.
He said that Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb became enraged when he heard that a woman in his entourage had been raped within the temple allegedly by the Brahmin priests and thus ordered its destruction.
Subsequently, a doctored clip of this debate began making the rounds on social media in which the references provided by Ravi Kant, are missing.
Reaction by Brahmanical Groups
Brahmanical Groups protested at the University campus shouting slogans against the Professor.
“He has a communist mindset and this is a disease. He used his post to comment on Hindu traditions. He commented about the Kashi Vishwanath Temple yesterday” a student leader from ABVP was filmed saying during the protest at Lucknow University.
Another ABVP leader, Pranav Kant Singh, said they want the professor to be sacked.
“Such a person spreads poison in society and we will certainly not allow that,” the student leader said.
Professor’s Statement on Brahmanical Threats
In a video statement, Kant said his voice was being suppressed because he is a Dalit.
“I made a statement quoting a story from a book about how the mosque came to be constructed in Varanasi. That statement and the reference to the book were edited out and a clip was shared suggesting I was hurting [Hindu-Brahmanical] sentiments. I had no such intention. I was merely referring to a story, not even a factual account,” the professor said.
“Despite this, students of the ABVP and outsiders came here and raised objectionable slogans. With the help of the police, I spoke to the students and asked them to see the whole clip and expressed regret if anyone’s sentiments were hurt. I did post the incident on Facebook. I am a Dalit and follow the values of Baba Saheb’s Constitution and I feel my voice is being suppressed, being from this community,” the professor said in the statement.
Condemnation by Leading Academics
Following the tense events, a group of academics released a statement condemning the actions of the ABVP and demanding that the members of the mob be brought to book.
“We demand that the culprits be brought to book immediately, the atmosphere of debate and dissent, so crucial for an institute of learning and essential for a democratic society be restored immediately and Dr. Ravi Kant and his family be provided all necessary protection,” the statement read.
The statement went on to describe the incident as “yet another example of the intolerance and [Brahmanical] sectarianism and violence that is increasingly becoming the norm all over the country.”