All of you might have heard, read, analysed, and formed opinion about the shocking news from Aligarh. Aligarh Muslim University's (AMU) Modern Indian Languages Department's Chairman Dr. Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras has been framed by a local TV news channel for having had consensual sex with an adult man (a rickshaw puller). Apart from the fact that he was framed for doing nothing illegal (as the Delhi High Court ruled last year), it's shameful that the unversity has condemned Dr. Siras and his 'actions' and has played along with the sting operation. They have asked Dr. Siras to vacate the campus and have given him a week to do so. Dr. Siras has apparently offered to resign considering that he was close to retirement anyway.
There are so many questions that need to be answered. There are so many things which have been dealt with in the wrong manner. I believe that Dr. Siras shouldn't have offered to resign - instead, he should have filed an FIR for invasion of privacy and defamation. He chose to not do that, perhaps due to some personal reasons that we aren't aware of. I believe it is the responsibility of the rest of the educated society to help Dr. Siras regain his pride.
I happened to know about this scandal a little late - actually, I wasn't even aware until my colleague and gay rights activist SM asked me whether I had seen the article on the frontpage of TOI. I was shocked when I read the news and was even more shocked to see the sensationalistic biased coverage given to the story by TOI. I have a few friends who are working with TOI, and I am perfectly aware that they can't control what comes on the frontpage of a newspaper that seems to have chosen to be joker in the media circus.
Two days later hence however, I am happy to see the story on Hindustan Times about the strong support given to Dr. Siras by the academicia, one of whom is a dear friend of mine. Another story by Indian Express, which seems to uphold the values associated with unbiased news reporting, not only states the facts clearly but voices the opinion of a few sensible gay activists including those of a TOI/ET writer Vikram Doctor.
Please read these articles and help us to protest against the unethical and unjust treatment given to Dr. Siras.
3 comments:
So what exactly are they discriminating against this time .. The fact that it was "consensual" sex between two males ... or between a Professor and a "rickshaw puller" .. ?? I am still to how does having sex in the confines of your own private space be "gross misconduct" ... Shouldn't the entire nation be punished in this case for fornicating like ferrets and contributing to one sixth of the world's population...?? ohh wait that cannot be done till someone films you do it ... and mails ur employer about it ...
So now we all know how to get back at a particularly prickly person at work, a strict professor at uni, or practically ANYONE out there.......... and escape scot free...
I wonder if the young rickshaw puller was as young as some of the professor's students.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Aligarh-gay-professor-found-dead-may-have-killed-self/articleshow/5771916.cms
update on Siras case...
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