If Tuesday’s developments in various quarters at the University of Madras are any indication, the furore over the cancellation of the public address by the American academician, Amina Wadud, is well and truly raging. Varsity academicians have chosen to express their displeasure in no uncertain terms over the issue.
According to head of the Department of Islamic Studies, P K Abdul Rahiman, the incident reflected poorly on a contemporary aspect of our society, that of extreme intolerance to any form of dissent. He added that a statement in this regard would be out by Wednesday. “Academics and activists from across the nation, including New Delhi, would be signatories to it,” he added. Rahiman explained that the fact that the trend is practically virulent across the nation was a source for worry.
A representative of the Professors Forum of the university castigated the entire turn of events. “When it comes to academics, police just do not have any place,” he said.
Dr Michael Aruldas, head of the Madras University Teachers Association (MUTA), however, told Express that had the issue been purely academic, the issue might not have turned out the way it had.