'Antithetical To Freedom'

We, as social scientists, scholars, teachers and concerned citizens, feel extremely concerned about the lynching at Dadri, and the murders of scholars and thinkers like MM Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and others, and wish to register our strong protest.

We are not just shocked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late response, but also by the implications of the victim-blaming statement he made. To say that ‘Hindus and Muslims should not fight each other but should fight poverty instead’ puts the onus for peace and fighting poverty entirely on civil society and communities and absolves the state of any responsibility for both. As Prime Minister, he should have asserted that the state would defend the rule of law.

In a country with some 4693 communities and over 415 living languages, each community is bound to have its own customs, including dietary choices. Individuals may also follow practices different from the ones followed by the majority of their community. Any attempt to impose a uniform belief or practice, on either individuals or communities, is antithetical to the freedom enshrined in the Constitution. It is the state’s responsibility to ensure this freedom.

Further, as scholars, we are extremely worried about the implications of these recent developments for our ability to study and write about different life ways, and to critically analyse society, including social phenomena like religion.
 
Achin Vanaik (Retd.) University of Delhi
Aditya Mukherjee, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Aditya Sarkar, Warwick University
Ajay Dandekar, Shiv Nadar University
Ajit Menon, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai
Albeena Shakil, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla
Alito Siquira, University of Goa
Amar Farooqui, University of Delhi, Delhi
Amar Jesani, Researcher/teacher, Pubic health and Bioethics, Mumbai
Amit Bhaduri, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Amita Baviskar, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi
Amman Madan, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
Amrita Pande, University of Cape Town
Anand Chakravarti, (Retd.), Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
Anand K. Sahay, Columnist, New Delhi
Anjali Bhatia, University of Delhi
Ankur Datta, South Asian University
Annapurna Shaw, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
Anuj Bhuwania, South Asian University, New Delhi
Anuja Agrawal, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
Anup Sinha, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
Anurekha Chari Wagh, University of Pune
Aparna Basu, (Retd.) University of Delhi
Aparna Rayaprol, University of Hyderabad
Aparna Sundar,Azim Premji University, Bangalore
Aparna Vaidik, Ashoka University, Kundli, Haryana
Archana Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Archana Sahare, JDB Govt. Girls’ College, Kota (Rajasthan)
Arif Waqif, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad
Arima Misra, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
Arindam Banerjee, Ambedkar University Delhi
Arjun Dev (Retd)Professor of History, NCERT
Arun Kumar, Retd. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Arupjyoti Saikia, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati
Atulan Guha, IIM Kashipur
Babu P. Remesh, IGNOU, New Delhi
Badri Narayan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Balmurli Natarajan, William Paterson University, USA
Balveer Arora, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi
Bhupinder Yadav, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
Birinder Pal Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala
C T Kurien, formerly of Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai.
C. Lakshmanan, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai
Carol Upadhya, National Institute of Advanced Study, Bangalore
Chandan Gowda, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
Chandra Chari, The Book Review, New Delhi
Chayanika Shah, Somaiya College of Science and Commerce, Mumbai
Chirashree Das Gupta, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Chitra Joshi, Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi
D N Dhanagare, former National Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla
D. R. Sahu, University of Lucknow
D.Nrasimha Reddy, Rtd. University of Hyderabad.
Debarshi Das, IIT Guwahati
Debashis Ghoshal, School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Debashish Bhattacherjee, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
Deepak Kumar, Punjabi University, Patiala
Deepak Mehta, University of Delhi
Dia Da Costa, University of Alberta, Canada
Dilip M Menon, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Dinesh Abrol, ISID, New Delhi
Divya Vaid, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Dr. S.V. Nadkarni, Ex. Dean L.T.M. Med. College, Mumbai,
Dulali Nag, Indian Institute for Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata
Farhana Ibrahim, Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi
G. Srinivas, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Gayatri Menon, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
Geet Lamba, Government College, Moonak, Punjab
Geeta Kapur, Art Critic, New Delhi
Geetha Nambissan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Girish Mishra, Author, Columnist and Teacher, New Delhi
Gita Chadha, University of Mumbai
Gopalji Pradhan, Ambedkar University Delhi
Gopesh Talukdar, IISWBM, Kolkata
Gyan Pandey, Emory University, USA
Harbans Mukhia, (Retd ), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Harinder Kaur, Punjabi University, Patiala
Hira Singh, York University, Canada
Imtiaz Ahmad, (Retd) Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Indira Chandrasekhar, Publisher, Tulika Books, New Delhi
Indra Munshi, (Retd.) University of Mumbai
Indrapramit Roy, Artist, Baroda.
Jaiwanti Dimri, H.P. University, Shimla
Janaki Abraham, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
Jasmeen Kaur, Punjabi University, Patiala
Jesim Pais, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, New Delhi
Johannes Manjrekar, M.S. University of Baroda
John Paul, Pondicherry University
Jyothsna Belliappa, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
Kalpana Kannabiran, Centre for Social Development, Hyderabad
Kamala Ganesh,( Retd.) University of Mumbai
Kamei Aphun, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
Kushal Deb, IIT Bombay
Lakshmi Subramaniam, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata
Leena Abraham, TISS, Mumbai.
Madhumati Dutta, IIESTS, Howrah (WB)
Madhura Swaminathan, Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore
Mahesh Sarma, Independent Researcher, New Delhi
Mahuya Bandyopadhyay, University of Delhi
Maitrayee Chaudhary, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Mani Inderpal Singh, University College, Miranpur (Distt. Patiala)
Manish Jain, Ambedkar University Delhi
Manisha Sethi, Jamia Millia Islamia
Manjeet Singh, Government College, Jind, Haryana
Manoranjan Mohanty, (Retd) University of Delhi
Manpreet Kaur, Lovely University, Jalandhar, Punjab
Mariam Dossal, (Retd.) University of Mumbai
Mary E. John, Centre for Women's Development studies, New Delhi
Maya Rao, Shiv Nadar University, Uttar Pradesh
Meena Gopal, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
Meena Radhakrishna, formerly of Delhi School of Economics,University of Delhi
Meher Engineer, independent scientist, Kolkata
Mohan Rao, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Mridula Mukherjee, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Mritiunjoy Mohanty, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
Mushirul Hasan, former Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Nalini Nayak, PGDAV (M) College, Delhi University
Namrata Vadhera, Punjabi University, Patiala
Nandini Manjrekar, TISS , Mumbai
Nandini Sundar, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
Narendra Panjwani, formerly at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai
Narinder Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala
Nasir Tyabji, formerly of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Nasreen Fazalbhoy, (Retd) University of Mumbai.
Navdeep Mathur, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
Nayanika Mathur, University of Cambridge
Neeladri Bhattacharya, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Neera Chandhoke, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Neetha N., Centre for Women’s Development Studies, New Delhi
Neshat Quaiser, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Nilika Mehrotra, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Nirmal Sengupta, Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla
Nissim Mannathukkaren, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Padma Prakash, Director, esocialsciences
Padma Velaskar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
Parimal Ghosh, (Retd.) University of Calcutta.
Partho Datta, Zakir Husain Delhi Evening College, University of Delhi
Parveen Jha, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Patricia Uberoi, (Retd.) Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi
Pratiksha Baxi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Pratyush, Sarwahara newspaper, Delhi
Praveen Jha, Jawharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Probal Dasgupta, Linguistic Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata
Pulin Nayak, (Retd) Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
Purendra Prasad, University of Hyderabad
R Nagaraj, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai.
R. Siva Prasad, Central University, Hyderabad
Rachna Dhingra Coordinator International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
Radhika Chopra, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
Radhika Gupta, Max Planck Institute, Göttingen
Radhika Mongia, York University, Canada
Radhika Singha, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Rajan Barrett, MS University of Baroda
Rajat Datta, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Rajesh Kamble, University of Mumbai
Rajni Palriwala, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
Raka Ray, University of California at Berkeley, USA
Rama Baru, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Ranabir Chakravarti, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Rashmi Doraiswamy, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Ratna Raman, Sri Venkateshwara College, University of Delhi
Ravi Duggal, Public Health Researcher, Anusandhan Trust, Mumbai
Ravi Kumar, South Asian University, New Delhi
Ravi Shukla, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Ravi Sundaram, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies
Ravinder Kaur, Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi
Ravinder Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala
Reema Bhatia, University of Delhi
Rekha Basu, University of Delhi,
Renny Thomas, University of Delhi
Riddhi Shah, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Rita Brara, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
Ritajyoti Bandyopadhyay, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta
Ritu Dewan, formerly at University of Mumbai
Roma Chatterji, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
Romila Thapar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Ruchi Chaturvedi, University of Cape Town
Rudolf Heredia, Independent Researcher, Mumbai
Rukmini Sen, Ambedkar University Delhi
S.B. Upadhyay, IGNOU, New Delhi
Sadhana Natu, Department of Psychology, Modern College, Pune University
Sajal Lahiri, Southern Illinois University, USA
Sajni Mukherji, Jadavpur University, West Bengal
Sakshi Khurana, V. V. Giri National Labour Institute
Sanjay Srivastava, Institute of Economic Growth
Sasheej Hegde, University of Hyderabad
Satendra Kumar, Lucknow
Satinath Sarangi Member Bhopal Group for Information & Action, Bhopal
Satish Deshpande, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
Savyasaachi, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Shail Mayaram, CSDS, Delhi
Shalini Grover, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi
Shamsul Islam, Author/Dramatist, formerly of University of Delhi
Sharada Srinivasan, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
Sheena Jain, formerly at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Shilpa Phadke, Tata Institute of Social Sciences- Mumbai
Shivaji Panikkar, Ambedkar University Delhi
Shivali Tukdeo, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore
Shruti Tambe, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune
Soumyen Sikdar, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
Sreekala.E, Pondicherry University
Sreemati Chakrabarti, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Delhi
Sripad Motiram, University of Massachusetts, USA
Subir Rana, National Institute Of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru
Sucheta Mahahan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Sudha Vasan, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
Sujata Patel, University of Hyderabad
Sumanta Banerjee, Independent researcher, Hyderabad
Sumit Sarkar, (Retd) University of Delhi
Suneet Chopra, Art Critic and Writer, New Delhi
Superna Jindal, Punjabi University, Patiala
Surajit Mazumdar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Surinder S. Jodhka, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Susan Visvanathan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Sushil Khanna, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
Svati Shah, University of Massachusetts, USA
Syed Ali Nadeem Rezavi, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
Tapati Talukdar, formerly at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata
T. N. Madan, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi
Tanika Sarkar, (Retd) Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Tanweer Fazal, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Tapan Basu, University of Delhi
Tejaswini Niranjana, TISS, Mumbai
Tejinder Pal Singh, University College, Miranpur (Distt. Patiala)
Tina Chakravarty, Sophia College, Mumbai.
Tiplut Nongbri, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Tulsi Patel, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
Ujjwala Mhatre, Researcher and Writer, Mumbai
Uma Iyengar, The Book Review , New Delhi
Uma Das Gupta, Independent scholar, Kolkata.
Urfat Anjem Mir, Ambedkar University Delhi
Utsa Patnaik, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
V. Sujatha, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Valerian Rodrigues, National Fellow - ICSSR, Mangalore
Vasavi, A. R., Bangalore
Vasundhara Bhojvaid, University of Delhi
Veena Naregal, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi
Venkatesh Athreya, formerly of Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli (TN)
Vidhu Verma, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Vijay Prashad, Chief Editor, LeftWord Books
Vikas Maniar, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
Vincent Ekka, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Vinita Bhatia, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai
Vinod Vyasulu, Formerly at Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore
Virginius Xaxa, Tata Institute of Social Sciences– Guwahati
Vivan Sundaram, Artist, New Delhi
Walter Fernandes, North Eastern Social Research Centre, Guwahati
Xonzoi Barbora, Tata Institute of Social Sciences- Guwahati
Yasmeen Arif, University of Delhi
Yasmeen Lukmani, (Retd.) University of Mumbai
Zoya Hasan, National Fellow, ICSSR.