Santiniketan: After the central university Visva Bharati issued an eviction notice to Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, locals and intellectuals rallied to support him. They sang Rabindra Nath Tagore's songs and recited Gurudev's poems in protest.
The university claims that a section of the land is being illegally occupied by the economist. The Calcutta High Court has issued a stay until a lower court settles the matter.
Literateur Swapan Kumar Ghosh, an ashramite and a former teacher of Visva-Bharati led the rally. Well-known doctor and social activist Arindam Biswas also participated along with locals.
Biswas said they are protesting against the continuous insults and insinuations being heaped on Prof Amartya Sen and threats of physical attack being issued to him by Visva Barati authorities to silence him. "We are distressed and apprehensive over this. We have taken to the streets today in abhorrence of such tactics. We are worried."
He added that the university's main intention is to silence Sen so that he does not speak out. "Even the people of the nearby villages have participated in the rally held in support of an academician ... Today's protest is a vocal expression of social protest."
It was organised by Samajik Maryada Raksha Committee (Social Dignity Protection Committee). Intellectuals from both Kolkata and Santiniketan participated. They gathered near Siksha Bhavan' in the Visva-Bharati campus and formed a human chain outside Sen's residence Pratichi.
On Thursday, the university requested that the local district administration ensure that there is no breach of peace on the campus. During the rally, there were no disturbances reported.
Sen's residence Pratichi was built by his father Ashutosh Sen after in October 1943, the then Visva Bharati general secretary, Rathindranath Tagore leased 1.38 acres of land to him.
The university on April 19 issued an eviction notice to Sen and accused him of "illegally occupying" 0.13 acres of land on the campus. Sen approached a court in Birbhum and a hearing was fixed on May 15. However, the university said that the economist will face action if he does not vacate the plot by May 6. The Calcutta High Court at the last moment intervened and put an interim stay until the lower court deals with the issue.