Those who fear the truth

Facts, ideas and dissent are things that Fascists always fear. Therefore, the incidents that become news almost every day, reiterate the fact that the problems highlighted by the proponents of democracy about the state of the country should be taken with utmost seriousness. We had mentioned in an earlier editorial about the circumstances in which Ashoka University Professor Sabyasachi Das had to resign from his position. Professor Das had published a research paper claiming that the BJP won a disproportionate share of seats in closely contested constituencies in the 2019 general election. The University expressed displeasure and distanced itself from the paper. It can thus be naturally inferred that even in the case of academic research and discourses that may likely be  against the Union government, there is interference from the higher-ups. The incident in which the Delhi police, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Centre, tried to restrict entry to Harkishan Singh Surjeet Bhawan, a CPM study centre in Delhi, and stop a seminar that was being held there, proves this assumption. The police locked the gate to stop people from attending the seminar being held inside the party building. The three-day seminar organized under the name V20, which critically evaluated the G20 conference to be held in the capital, was disrupted by the police on the second day. The indication that there are people out there who decide not to allow any voice of dissent, be it research papers or seminars; who fear discussions and diversity of ideas, is itself dangerous. These are not isolated incidents; but emerging trends that are gaining strength. It was only a few days ago that a talk organised by Break the Silence, a collective of students at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, was cancelled by the authorities.

It might be out of speculation about what Teesta Setalvad, a civil rights activist, would likely talk about at a lecture on ‘Communal Harmony and Justice’, that the event was banned. Later, the students and teachers held the lecture in another venue, near the cafeteria. The institute authorities had a month ago cancelled a talk by two others, who had been jailed for taking part in the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in 2019. It was only recently that Unacademy sacked a teacher for advising the students to vote only for 'educated candidates'. The police are banning even academic discourses, citing security concerns.  As a matter of fact it is the duty of the police to protect free speech. Not only that, the seminar that was scheduled to be held at CPM-owned Harkishan Singh Surjeet Bhawan, was in no way a threat to law and order. Even expressions of opinion about anti-CAA protests are being banned. A workshop about the film Kashmir Files that was scheduled to be held at Jamia Millia Islamia got banned. In short, the government has been using the police and the authorities of institutions as a tool, to curb the programs and events that voice dissent. The stance that financial aid will be provided to universities only if they approve of the National Education Policy, which was unilaterally decided upon by the Union Government, is also an example of academic fascism.

Knowledge and facts are the means to find the truth. And the truth is the foundation which sustains individuals and societies in a healthy manner. No state can progress by turning away from the facts. In this, there is no place for party politics. However, it seems like the NDA regime sees the facts and realities based on facts, as enemies. The Prime Minister had said more than once that Chinese troops have not crossed into Indian territory. However, in the ongoing discussions with China, a demand put forth by India is the withdrawal of China from the Indian territory in Pangong Tso. Withholding the data of the National Sample Survey Office to hide the fact of rising unemployment and the records of the death of migrant workers during the period of Covid-19 are examples. There were instances such as the resignation of two persons including the Acting Chairman of the National Statistical Commission. Experts say that accurate information regarding unemployment, GDP and farmer suicides is not available. During the Independence Day speech, the Prime Minister claimed that 13.5 crore Indians were free from hunger.  Experts say that the PM could make that claim not because there is a decrease in hunger but only because of changing the criteria used to gauge it. Given that ultimately truth and facts are what save a nation, using power against them and against the diversity in views which leads to them, will defeat the country itself.