Hundreds of academics, activists, students, sign statement condemning TISS, Hyderabad closure

Hundreds of professors, activists, students, alumni across the country have signed a statement condemning the closure of the TISS, Hyderabad campus. 

Professors from JNU to EFLU to Columbia University - Prabhat Patnaik, K Satyanarayana, Ayesha Kidwai, Karen Coelho, Nandita Narain and several other professors. Radhika Vemula, Yogendra Yadav, Cynthia Stephen, Naren Bededi, Slyvia Karpagam, student leaders and various others including doctors have signed the statement.

The statement said that it was worrying that these were the third round of protests on the question of accessibility and availability of hostel facilities for Dalit and Adivasi students. "It is worrying that instead of engaging with the burning question of diversity and inclusivity in academic spaces, the TISS administration has chosen to shut down the institute. This is despite the fact that the protests were democratic and peaceful in nature," the statement said. 

They also expressed shock at the fact that an institute like TISS that has worked towards social justice for so many years had chosen to disregard the protests, "At a time when the state is withdrawing from higher education, it is appalling that an institute which has a long and cherished history of working towards social justice has chosen to absolve itself of the responsibility of providing equitable access to education."