Thread by @jsaideepak

1. Free speech. Diversity of ideas. Toleration. Inclusion. Gender Studies cell of St. Stephen's College. Vande Mataram.

2. Interesting.

3. Quite a few ppl have reached out asking me as to what exactly transpired in this St. Stephen's episode. I will keep it factual with a few comments on the episode. Before I proceed, I would request everyone to be measured in their language given that students are involved.

4. On February 9th,students from the Leadership cell of St. Stephen's reached out to me inviting me for a talk/interactive session at the Leadership Conclave held between February 24th and 27th. I confirmed my availability for the evening of the 25th.

5. On February 22nd, I was informed by the Leadership cell that the Principal of St. Stephen's had granted permission for my session. After receipt of permission, students of the Leadership cell proceeded to put up posters of the event on the campus.

6. Given my previous experience with another Delhi-based minority institution which buckled under pressure from a group of students, I knew that grant of permission wasn't going to be the end of the matter and I conveyed as much to the students of the Leadership cell.

7. As expected, I received a call from students of the Leadership cell a few hours before the event that some students had objected to my being invited. I was informed that I would get a mail citing "logistical reasons" for the cancellation of the event, which I am yet to get.

8. I had no intention of bringing this up because (a) the episode involved students and (b) I had better things to do. I had another session with students of IIM Bangalore (@fii_iimb) later the same evening as part of a panel, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

9. Only later in d evening,just before my IIM B session,the Instagram posts of the Gender Studies Cell of St. Stephen's was brought to my attention. Since they had deemed it fit to come out in the open,I decided to help them by disseminating their posts thru my SM accounts.

10. I have nothing to say on the conduct of the Gender Studies Cell of St. Stephen's because their posts speak for them. Whether this warrants an introspection on their part is for them to decide. That said, I *don't* approve of uncivil language being used against them by anyone.

11. What makes me happy & hopeful is d fact that even in St.Stephen's there r students who wanted to engage with me on my ideas & positions. This takes a lot of courage given d atmospherics and peer pressure in certain institutions. So kudos to d Leadership cell of St. Stephen's.

12. Independent of d students of course,it is indeed unfortunate that St. Stephen's as an institution cud'nt stand by its decision to greenlight my session.I guess this underscores a larger problem that plagues such institutions across d country-selective support for free speech.

13. What also concerns me is d lack of originality in certain positions taken by such groups & d disturbing trend among students to treat opinions as substitutes for logic, reason, knowledge, dialogue and debate, all of which require the confidence to engage with opposing views.

14. As for d predictable jibes about my arguments in d Marital Rape petition- 1. as an arguing counsel I am discharging my mandate & 2. my written submissions will make it abundantly clear as to d position taken bcoz a binary treatment using labels doesn't do justice to d issue.

15.Not to generalise,but I have found science & management institutions/departments much more open to debate & engagement than d humanities departments who,ironically,see themselves as champions of free speech and expression.That misplaced sense of hubris needs to be challenged.

16. Finally,d St. Stephen's episode is a clear sign of a tectonic churn taking place on campuses across d country.Regardless of my views,I welcome this churn & *will* support it to d hilt.I thank d Gender Studies Cell of St. Stephen's for enabling this.Jai Shri Ram.Vande Mataram.

Correction in Tweet 9 - the Instagram *post*