TISS Registrar deletes social media posts but students demand his ouster

Deleting ‘Islamophobic, sexist and anti-Dalit’ posts from his social media platforms is not enough, say students of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, who seem to be getting ready to intensify their protest against the appointment of Colonel Rakesh Mohan Joshi as Registrar late in August.

Around 1,200 signatures have been collected, say students, from across the TISS campuses against the appointment.

In the open letter addressed to the chairman of the TISS Governing Board, Subramaniam Ramadorai, Progressive Students’ Forum (PSF) had attached a number of social media posts Col Joshi had shared. PSF pointed out that appointment of such a person with pronounced communal and anti-Dalit bias was problematic in an institute like TISS.

The students in the letter alleged that few of the registrar’s posts were Islamophobic and communal in nature as they invoked “incendiary labels like 'Jihadi' and insinuated the link of a particular religion with terrorism”. They also expressed concerns over the registrar’s posts vilifying dissent through student’s protests and asking for their rustication.

The newly appointed Registrar was accused by PSF of posting comments vilifying protesting students in central universities, anti-CAA protesters, calling several media persons as Presstitutes and for belittling comedian-activist Varun Grover.

He had also posted provocative and communal comments against the Tablighi Jamaat and made fun of reservation by retweeting that India still did not have a vaccine against the coronavirus because people securing 90% marks were selling pakoras while those securing 40% were experimenting in labs. He, the students alleged, had completely overlooked the fact that even the US, Europe or China are yet to develop a vaccine.

Ironically, students pointed out, TISS has done pioneering research on disadvantaged sections of the society, street children, destitutes and women.

Ramdas, a member of PSF said: “After coming across such sexist views and hateful comments against Dalit community by our new registrar, the students have become concerned about the future of our departments itself.”

“The Registrar is an administrative head and has many big and small duties like approval of events, his one-sided views may affect all of this. The Registrar can also withhold scholarships” he added.

The Registrar Rakesh Mohan Joshi and TISS Director Dr Shalini Bharat, were contacted through email for their comments. This report will be updated as and when they respond.