TISS issues notice to Hyderabad campus professor, alleges role in students' protest

Hyderabad: The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) administration has recently issued a show cause notice to Dr Arjun Sengupta, assistant professor at the Hyderabad campus, regarding his alleged involvement in a student protest organised by unrecognised student groups.

A memo from the institution, dated October 8, asked Dr Sengupta to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against him, citing his participation in activities deemed disruptive to the institution’s environment.

Memo triggered by a social media clip

The administration’s action followed the circulation of a short video on social media, where Dr Sengupta can be seen among a gathering of students, supporting their concerns about impending staff terminations.

TISS stated that the video reflects behaviour that disrupts the ‘peaceful academic environment’ of the campus. The memo emphasised that Dr Sengupta’s involvement, particularly in supporting the Progressive Students Organization (PSO) and Progressive Students Forum (PSF), was against the norms of the institute.

TISS also pointed out that the groups are not recognised as student bodies.

One of the students who participated in the gathering said anonymously: “The administration’s reaction to the one-minute video is exaggerated. We were discussing genuine concerns about faculty terminations, and Dr Sengupta stood with us because he understands the gravity of the issue.”

Growing concerns about faculty terminations

The issue behind the protest is the termination notices received by over 50 faculty members at the Hyderabad campus, raising concerns about the future quality of education.

Several student groups, including the Ambedkar Students Association (ASA), PSO and PSF organised a discussion around these terminations, fearing the impact on students and the campus environment.

One anonymous student expressed disappointment with the administration’s priorities: “Instead of addressing the loss of over 100 staff members, the administration is focusing on silencing a professor who supported us in our fight for quality education. This is deeply distressing for students concerned about their academic future.”

Teachers’ panel in solidarity with Dr Sengupta

The TISS Teachers Association (TISSTA) publicly expressed its solidarity with Dr Sengupta. In a statement released on October 19, TISSTA criticised the administration’s decision, calling it a hasty move based on an ‘unverified’ video clip without investigating the context of the situation.

“TISSTA is surprised that a faculty member has been targeted based on a short video. This action seems to threaten academic freedom and discourage open dialogue on campus,” the statement said.

TISSTA also emphasised that Dr Sengupta’s speech was in line with discussions around the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and called on the administration to retract the memo immediately.

Allegations of intimidation and self-censorship

Many students and faculty members believe the show cause notice to Dr Sengupta is part of a broader pattern by the TISS administration to suppress dissent and democratic discussions on campus. Some allege that recent administrative actions, including stopping guest lectures and debates on government policies, reflect a shrinking space for free speech.

One student, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, “We’re seeing a clear attempt to suppress academic discussions and conversations about social issues. The administration is even monitoring informal conversations between students and faculty members. This is not the environment we signed up for at a reputed institution like TISS.”

Call for dialogue and retraction

In light of these events, TISSTA has called for a more constructive approach from the administration, urging them to foster open dialogue and create supportive academic spaces. They have demanded a retraction of the memo issued to Dr Sengupta and a reaffirmation of TISS’s commitment to academic freedom.

“The administration needs to recognise that dissent and debate are essential to the academic process,” another student added. “We hope they withdraw the notice and focus on the real issues affecting the campus.”

As of now, the administration has not commented further on the situation. Dr Sengupta has seven days to respond to the memo, failing which disciplinary action may be taken.