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The events of 19th September and subsequent days left
the Jamia community shocked, aggrieved and fearful. In particular the
manner and the suspicious circumstances in which young boys, many of them
students of Jamia Millia Islamia, were picked up by the special Cell, and
pronounced “dreaded terrorists” by a trial by an utterly sensationalist
and prejudiced media, created an atmosphere of fear and suspicion.
We as teachers felt that we could not afford to isolate
ourselves in intellectual ivory towers. There was an urgent need to reach
out to the community, which lives at our doorstep, and where a large
number of teachers, administrative staff and our students reside. Jamia
Teachers Solidarity Group was thus formed under these circumstances. The
need for a civil society campaign on this was further underscored when
various contradictions in the police theories emerged.
Through a number of initiatives, including a Jan Sunwai
in Batla House area, march to Parliament to demand police probe into the
‘encounter’. A demonstration against Special Cell, and public discussions
on the role of the media, Supreme Court guidelines on encounter killings,
etc., we believe we have managed to create a wedge, however small, in the
prevailing discourse—a discourse that questions the nationalism and
patriotism of people who ask uncomfortable questions. We believe that true
foundation of a democracy can only be justice. Anyone with an interest in
deepening and strengthening Indian democracy should raise voice against
this brazen witch-hunt in the name of fighting terror.
In July 2009, Jamia Teachers’ Solidarity Group was
registered as an ‘association’ and formally became Jamia Teachers’
Solidarity Association.
Jamia Teachers’ Solidarity Association (JTSA) stands
committed to the upholding of democratic and human rights, to the
safeguard of justice, condemns terrorism of all kinds, including State
terror, and shall oppose authoritarianism. |
