.@nandu79 To me the appointment of @pbmehta as VC itself looks problematic in hindsight. Did he join #AshokaUniversity as a scholar or activist? Were the TOR clearly agreed with the trustees @PramathSinha? Can Mehta's articles be considered academic work or extra-curricular? 2/n
2/n if the latter, a distinction needed to be made. If it was the latter and so important to him - it is only fair that he steps down and follows his calling either as an independent voice or from an appropriate forum, not as the VC of #AshokaUniversity. This is a fundamental 3/n
3/n priciple of "conflict of interest" to be followed not just in "corporate organisations" but any institution. For example, in media if someone is appointed as an Editor (not for her/his political views) but for her credentials of a professional editor #AshokaUniversity 4/n
4/n but the person wishes to pursue an activist or influencer agenda - there would be a clear conflict of interest. In similar circumstances, the board of @TheStatesmanLtd (headed by Nani Palkhivala) had asked the editor Pran Chopra to step down the 60s #AshokaUniversity 5/n
5/n the same principle is applied in a Corporate org. If a CEO has strong political views it is only fair she/he pursues those interests separately rather than get the organisation be identified with her/him. It is standard professional practice anywhere #AshokaUniversity 6/n
6/n #pratapbhanumehta's predecessor #RugrangshuMukherjee has published several books during his tenure as VC of #AshokaUniversity (including - notably - "The Twitlight Falls on Liberalism"). But, those were academic works - as distinct from pamphleteering. So, no problem. 6/6
7/n Footnote: Husband of #MalabikaSarkar, current VC of #AshokaUniversity - an eminent Barrister has first hand knowledge of the episode involving Pran Chopra in The Staesman - involving luminaries as Nanin Palkhivala, Justice SR Das etc. This was in the 60s way before #Modi 8/n
8/n it may be instructive for #AshokaUniversity Trustees to acquaint themselves of the case. Equally, when VCs of state run Universities are replaced for their political views/affliation - is it considered attack on academic freedom? #pratapbhanumehta 8/8 (End of Thread)

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More from @SandipGhose

20 Mar
Caught a little of the #BengalClub Annual Panel Discussion on FB. Political posturing apart - irony dies a thousand deaths when the @CPIM_WESTBENGAL panellist @BikashranjanBh4 calls #AbbasSiddiqui “secular” and says the youth of #WestBengal are again turning towards the left 2/n
2/n which world do they live in and what do they think Bengali youth smoke these days. @DrAMSinghvi was, of course most balanced (with @INCIndia having no stakes in #WestBengal anymore - @adhirrcinc pls note) except for his carping on ED, CBI and farm laws but impressed by 3/n
3/n the @aitmc panellist @SantanuSenMP talking with utter conviction about the development of #WestBengal across all sectors by #TrinamoolCongress. The ever suave @DinTri repeated #NarendraModi’s reference to #SyamaPrasadMukherjee as the founder of Jan Sangh (by default BJP) 4/n
Read 4 tweets
18 Mar
Hold @pbmehta in high regard. Also @PramathSinha founder trustee and many others at @AshokaUniv. Don’t know the circumstances of his quitting. But conversely, as many are saying, cancel culture of “non left” voices at liberal institutions a reality globally 2/n #PratapBhanuMehta
2/n Even in India how many Right leaning voices will find even a lateral entry into into left dominated academia, think tanks, NGOs (local and global) and media?That’s why the angst against a handful of institutions(state and private) that provide platform to non-left voices 3/n
3/n Also in corporate India the discomfort with pro-government views is palpable and considered “career limiting”. Honchos who come out supporting #Modi are accused of doing so either because of an agenda or under pressure. Socially, they are mocked and made to feel defensive 4/n
Read 8 tweets
7 Feb
Have been watching the evolution of @DilipGhoshBJP with admiration. Over the last four years he has really come of age and emerged as a leader to reckon with in #WestBengal vindicating his selection as @BJP4Bengal President. #ModiInBengal #Haldia #WestBengalElection2021
2/n PM #NarendraModi takes stage - referring to the #UttarakhandAvalanche drawing a link between the source of the Ganga in #Uttarakhand and its meeting with the sea near #Haldia. #ModiInBengal #WestBengalElection2021
3/n As per @DilipGhoshBJP the gathering is around 3 lakhs from the 3 districts of erstwhile undivided #Medinipur. Impressive mobilisation. Certainly @SuvenduWB's entry would have made a big difference. #ModiInBengal #Haldia #WestBengalElection2021
Read 15 tweets
23 Sep 20
Problem is the blind polarisation among the upper-crust - who refuse to see anything good in #Modi. Many had forwarded to me the clip of an MP criticising #PMCaresFund hailing her as the new start in parliamentarian. Same people not interested in #NirmalaSitharaman’s rebuttal.
2/n Similarly, not a word of condemnation for the pandemonium caused in #RajyaSabha (despite televised footage) by the opposition but all sympathies with suspended MPs protesting in the laws of Parliament House and lamenting the “death of democracy”. 3/n
3/n Same set of businessmen and industrialists who have been crying hoarse about labour reforms suddenly start talking like Trade Union leaders. Would love to see their reaction if the government withdraws the amendments in #LabourCodes 4/n
Read 5 tweets
31 Aug 20
Among other things, #PranabMukherjee was said to have the memory of an elephant. Remembered the minutest detail from years ago.
Remember an interview of Arun Shourie by @ShekharGupta in #WalkTheTalk when UPA2 was floundering. He told SG that - had it not been for #PranabMukherjee who was the only person who had credibility within the Congress and with the Opposition the government would have collapsed.
Perhaps, the unkindest cut was - when Manmohan Singh went for his coronary bypass surgery #SoniaGandhi refused to name #PranabMukherjee the interim No 2 despite his being the senior most in the cabinet (she formed a joint committee with AK Antony. Such insecurity.
Read 12 tweets
28 Aug 20
Right now DR @APanagariya speaking at @BenCham1833 Leadership Series on the impact of the pandemic #ArvindPanagariya #BengalChamber
2/n Dr #ArvindPanagariya endorses the government's decision not to front-end the "demand stimulus" - because with labour not being there and enterprises shut - Supply Curve being vertical - it wouldn't have worked. #COVID19India #BengalChamber
3/n Dr #ArvindPanagariya thinks it was the right decision to focus first on food security and controlling infection spread. Next, the interventions by RBI on liquidity and credit lines was the logical second step #COVID19India #BengalChamber
Read 10 tweets

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