Jadavpur University professor faces casteist abuse on social media

A professor of Jadavpur University has been subjected to casteist attacks on social media for a post about conducting final semester exams during COVID-19 pandemic.

Jadavpur University Teachers Association (JUTA) and All Bengal University Teachers Association (ABUTA) on Sunday condemned "vicious casteist trolling" of Maroona Murmu, an associate professor of history of JU for an incuous post on Facebook.

On September 2, Murmu was subjected to a volley of casteist abuse on social media when she wrote in a Facebook post about need to postpone final semester exams as "one year cant be more precious than someone's entire life." This triggered a comment by a third-year student of Bethune College on her wall that "such thinking stems from a quota-centric state of mind" implying that Murmu had academically benefitted being a tribal.

A hurt Murmu, who did her undergraduate studies at Presidency College before doing research at JNU, expressed anguish in her reply how her opinion as an individual was igred by a female student and wondered if someone can be called incompetent and undeserving if he/she carries a tribal surname.

This invited more trolling as many ors supported young third-year student of Bethune College while support also poured in for professor.

Bethune College Students' Committee posted a statement on social media saying, "it is extremely disheartening and condemnable that a student of our college is still unaware of caste dynamics in India and need of reservations for underprivileged. incident in question is extremely shameful and has brought institution into disrepute.

"refore on behalf of students of Bethune College, students committee unequivocally condemns, comment by third-year student of institution and resolves to stand by Dr Murmu and struggle of all Dalits in our campus, state and country," statement said.

JUTA said in a statement on Saturday "an incuous comment by Professor Murmu regarding decision to conduct terminal semester exams during ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, caused a torrent of abuse to be unleashed against her on basis of her ethnic origin." "Her abusers have challenged among or things her qualifications to teach in one of India's premier universities. Such an attack questioning qualifications and integrity of Professor Murmu is an attack on every teacher, t just in Jadavpur University but anywhere in country," JUTA general Secretary Partha Pratim Ray said in statement.

"JUTA believes that every individual has right to express his/her personal opinion on any matter, but never in a manner that vilifies an individual for belonging to a particular community, ethnicity, caste, class or religion," statement said.

ABUTA in a similar statement condemned trolling of Murmu by a college student and 200 ors subsequently on social media who are making hate speeches against her and entire community of Dalit students and teachers.

"She is victim of fascist forces who want to vitiate air of free-thinking and crush liberal forces," left teacher association said.

Murmu in several posts thanked teachers' bodies, several rights groups and individuals for expressing solidarity with her. 

(Photo: PTI)