Calicut professor booked for Facebook post praising Godse. (Withdraw the case)

NB: Much as I dislike the political tradition which celebrates the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi; I disagree with the habit of taking police action against persons like Dr Shaija. Isn’t hatred for Gandhiji and celebration of his murderer a widespread stance in India? What exactly does the professor mean by “proud of Godse for saving India”? It’s quite obvious she was referring to what he did on January 30, 1948. So why not debate this with her and everybody else who is a open or disguised admirer of Godse? This professor has been forthright about her political beliefs, unlike many high and mighty persons who are full of piety about Gandhiji in public but detest him in private. Their piety is motivated solely by the fact that the Mahatma is held in high regard all over the world: read the tributes to him in February 1948. In fact a global BBC poll published in January 1, 2000 held him to be the greatest man in the past 1000 years. She may or may not be open to debate, but if she is, she could start by reading the evidence about the murder.

The so-called Sangh Parivar were quite open about their high regard for Nathuram Godse until they came to power. There were many statements made to this effect, and readers may start from some of them, as in here, here and here. Every year, around October 2, (Gandhiji’s birthday) and January 30 (his death anniversary) the Net is flooded with abusive commentary about Gandhi, and praise of his assassin – this professor’s remarks are in line with this tendency, which is no secret. She knows it and we all know it. And their hero V. D. Savarkar was a prime accused in the murder trial, and got off on a technicality. Here are some observations on the trial. And here is a review of a book about her hero Nathuram, I’ve added some observations on the trial.

A query addressed specifically to this teacher and those who agree with her views: do you approve of political assassination in general or only in this case? People who are killed in communal or caste disturbances are also victims of assassination, no matter their status – what are your views on such deeds? Don’t you agree that teachers ought to think carefully about what kind of ethical standards they set before their students?

Notwithstanding all this, I believe this professor should not have to face a criminal trial. Even if she does, nothing will come of it except pious platitudes and political hypocrisy. By the way, there are also many leftists who despised Gandhiji. One of them, the ultra-left writer Hansraj Rahbar, in his book titled Gandhi Be-nakab, expressed the same views on Godse as the Hindu Mahasabha and the so-called Parivar.

Let us set aside all the bogus talk and discuss Gandhi’s life work and his assassination honestly. I have posted some links beneath this news article, including information about his last fast, January 13 to 18, twelve days after which he was assassinated. Those who care about historical truth, about violence and non-violence could start by browsing through them.

As for Professor A. Shaija, I suggest the cases against her be withdrawn, that her students stop indulging in dramatic performances disguised as politics, and instead organise a public seminar on the theme; do some study, and then have an honest conversation with her about why she thinks the cold blooded murder of an unprotected 79 year-old man in a prayer meeting (where he refused police protection) was an admirable act. Yes, Nathuram Godse was a patriot. So was Charu Mazumdar the founder of Naxalism. I would like to hear the ethical philosophy of such patriotism. DS

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Shaju Philip

A professor at the National Institute of Technology – Calicut has been booked by the police for a post that ostensibly praised Nathuram Godse. On Gandhi’s death anniversary, professor Dr A Shaija had posted on Facebook, “Proud of Godse for saving India.” She was commenting on a Facebook post by an advocate who had posted, “Hindu Mahasabha activist Nathuram Godse, a hero of many in Bharat.”

Shaija later deleted the comment, but its screenshots were widely circulated. CPI(M) youth wing DYFI Saturday demanded Shaija be sacked since she had “tried to foment trouble in society”.

Congress MP M K Raghavan, who represents Kozhikode (Calicut), posted on X: “I am ashamed to hear an inappropriate comment against Mahatma Gandhi and praise of Godse’s deed by a person holding a responsible post in NIT, a premier institution falls under my constituency. Appropriate exemplary action should be taken by the authorities concerned.”

In a letter to the NIT-C director, the MP said, “Such statements not only reflect poorly on the academic integrity of our institution but also undermine the values we strive to uphold. It is essential to ensure that our academic environment remains inclusive, respectful and free from any form of intolerance or hate speech.” Kunnamangalam police under Kozhikode city limits, meanwhile, registered a case against Shaija under IPC section 153 ( wantonly giving provocation, with intent to cause riot) after three organisations complained against the professor.

Prof Shaija, when contacted, said, “My comment was not to appreciate the killing of Gandhiji. I never wanted to do so. I had read Godse’s book, Why I killed Gandhi. Godse was also a freedom fighter. There is a lot of information and revelations in his book, which the common man does not know. Godse has enlightened us in his book. Against this backdrop, I had commented on the advocate’s Facebook post. When I realised that people have started distorting my comment, I deleted it.”

NIT-C was in the spotlight recently after a group of students, under the banner of a science and spirituality club, had drawn a saffron coloured map of India at the gate of the institute on the day of the Prana Pratishtha. A section of students had protested against it. A Dalit student named Vysakh Premkumar had also raised a placard saying India is not a Ram Rajya, which led to a scuffle between the students. Two days ago, the institute suspended Premkumar, but it was later put on hold until an appellant authority decides on his appeal. The suspension triggered further unrest.

Prof Shaija, who has been an NIT-C faculty for the last 25 years, said the furore against her is connected to the recent student unrest on campus. She said nobody from the institute has sought an explanation from her so far. “I am not a sympathiser of any political party. I am an academician,” she said.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-nit-calicut-professor-booked-facebook-post-praising-godse-9142775

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Gandhi’s Assassin. By Dhirendra K Jha

The Abolition of truth

Delhi Police Archive on RSS activity in October-December 1947

The Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi: Inquiry Commission Report (1969)

The Lady Vanishes

Sarojini Naidu’s broadcast February 1, 1948: My Father, Do Not Rest / T. N. Madan: Secret of Gandhi’s Greatness / Gopalkrishna Gandhi: We need to do more than lament the tragedy

Patriotism as a diagnosis

The Supreme Court, Gandhi and the RSS

उड जायेगा हंस अकेला / जग दर्शन का मेला – Remembering Mahatma Gandhi

Satyagraha: An answer to modern nihilism