Prabhakar Sinha

In 1917, Gandhiji decided to visit Champaran to see for himself the oppression and exploitation of the peasants by the Englishmen, who forced them to plant indigo they needed to make a paint .On his way to Motihari from Patna , he had to stay for a day or two at Muzaffarpur .J.B Kripalani was working as a lecturer at the G.B.B.College there .He had met Gandhiji earlier but had not joined politics and was not inclined to join hands with him at the time .Even though he knew full well that it would anger the whole of the British community (specially , the Principal of his college ) he organised a good number of students to accompany him to the Railway station to receive Gandhiji .

He along with the students received Gandhiji and brought him to his place of residence to stay with him .Gandhiji left for another place after a day or two

where he could meet others and request them to accompany him to Motihari, the headquarters of the Champaran district . The Principal and the general administration were incensed , but no action was taken against Kripalaniji -even an explanation was not sought from him .

In February 2017, Nivedita Menon , a Professor from JNU was invited by Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur to deliver a lecture .It was alleged by the ABBP that she had said that J&K was not an integral part of India (she has categorically denied saying anything like that as it was not the subject of her lecture ).

Based on the hearsay of the ABVP , the Registrar has filed an FIR with the police against the Professor , who had gone to the university as a guest on invitation .As if it was not enough , the teacher of the university Rajashree Ranavat , who was entrusted to organise the lecture ,has been suspended for inviting Prof.Menon .It is reported that even her dismissal from service is being sought by the Modi brigade .

The contrast between the conduct of the British Raj and that of the Modi Raj is glaring .Even if allowance is made for Modi's inability to rise above the low mentality of a lowly Sangh Pracharak that he had been for years, the shame to which he is bringing India is unpardonable .

He must be reminded that India is a democracy ,and he has no right to make her a laughing stock by display of his mean and petty mindedness.

Hastakshep