In a significant development as the country is debating the issue of nationalism and sedition, more than 130 professors and academicians across the country have intensified their campaign seeking removal of Sheldon Pollock from the post of mentor and chief editor of Murthy classical library because he supported the JNU protest.
These personalities from various institutions across the country have signed an online petition to Infosys founder and chief mentor NR Narayana Murthy and his son Rohan Murthy who have set up the classical library.
listing out their arguments against Pollock, the petitioners said he is a prominent signatory of two recent statements released by US academicians condemning the actions of the JNU authorities and the Government of India against separatist groups who are calling for the independence of Kashmir, and for India’s breakup.
The Murty Classical library of India aims to make available the great literary works of India from the past two millennia. Set up by Harvard University Press with the help of a personal endowment in 2010 by Rohan Murty, the library aims to publish as many as 500 books over the course of the century.
Among those who are signatory to the petition include Prof. K.Ramasubramanian from Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Bombay; Prof. Ramesh C Bhardwaj , Head, Department of Sanskrit from Delhi University; Dr Kapil Kapoor and Former Pro Vice Chancellor, JNU, New Delhi, among others.
Stating that they are “dismayed” that Pollock has been appointed the Chief Editor and mentor of the entire program, the petitioners said, furthermore, Pollock does not claim to be politically neutral. They said in recent years, Pollock has been a prominent signatory of several statements which are of a purely political nature and devoid of any academic merit; those statements have condemned various policies and actions of the Government of India.
Accusing Pollock of showing disrespect for the unity and integrity of India by signing the petition condemning action against separatist groups, petitioners said “We submit that such an individual cannot be considered objective and neutral enough to be in charge of your historic translation project.”
They have also recommended reconstituting the editorial group of the project with certain suggestions.
The online petition on change.org has received support from over 14,000 people so far.
Appreciating the Murty Classical library, the petition says “...such a historical project would have to be guided and carried out by a team of scholars who not only have proven mastery in the relevant Indian languages, but are also deeply rooted and steeped in the intellectual traditions of India.”