HYDERABAD: The University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Friday revoked the suspension of two professors, who were on a hunger strike for the past four days.
A review meeting held by UoH vice chancellor Appa Rao Podile, with deans of various schools of the university, decided to revoke the suspension of senior professor Dr K Y Ratnam and assistant professor Dr Tathagatha Sengupta.
“They will join duty with their responsibilities from this very moment,” said Arpita Kanjilal, wife of Tathagatha, amid jubilant cheers from students. “However, our fight is still on. All the false cases slapped on teachers and the students have to be dropped immediately,” she added.
“It is the victory of our united fight against oppression. However, the revocation of suspension is only one of the demands. There is a long list of demands, including removal of Appa Rao from the post of vice chancellor and doing justice to Rohith,” said Ambedkar Students Association convener and JAC member Sannaki Munna.
Earlier in the day, Delhi University professor GN Saibaba expressed solidarity with the students movement. “Rohith’s death is a message to the entire country to stand united and fight against the Hindutva oppression and their agenda in the schools and universities,” he said.
The professor, who was stopped from entering the campus, joined the protest of the two suspended professors at the UoH main gate. “Rohith’s death is a message not only to the students of the country but also to the teachers to come out in support of their students who are fighting for basic rights,” added G N Saibaba.
Dr Sudipta Muhuri of Savitribai Phule University, Pune, spoke about the struggles at her University for students to even assemble in small groups.
Prof Appa Rao had agreed to constitute a review committee, which would look into the revocation as soon as they were officially intimated about the arrest.