Hasan, professor emerita at Jawaharlal Nehru University, had been invited as chief guest for the school’s Independence Day and scholarship award ceremony on Friday. She was scheduled to hoist the national flag and speak to students on the theme of “Pluralism” at the Lodi Estate campus.
The school programme itself went ahead, but Hasan’s participation, including her entry into the campus and scheduled address, was cancelled. Gujarat Education Society president and school alumna Shveta Kalyanwala subsequently attended as chief guest. The society manages Sardar Patel Vidyalaya.
The cancellation followed the gathering of a small group outside the school early in the morning. Accounts from people associated with the institution said about 10 to 15 protesters were present and alleged that they were members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad. A larger police contingent was deployed after concerns emerged over possible disruption and the safety of Hasan, students and staff.
The VHP denied involvement. Its president Alok Kumar said he had personally checked the matter and maintained that the organisation had nothing to do with the incident. National spokesperson Vinod Bansal also rejected reports linking the organisation to the protest, describing the claim as misleading.
The competing accounts left the precise affiliation of those who gathered outside the school unresolved. There were no reports of violence or damage to property.
Delhi Police denied directing the school to cancel Hasan’s appearance. Police said they had received information from the institution about a potential law-and-order problem and deployed personnel to prevent an escalation. Officers maintained that the decision concerning Hasan’s participation was taken by the school.
The school confirmed that security concerns had led to Hasan’s speech and entry being called off. A faculty member familiar with the developments said “unruly elements” had gathered outside early in the morning and that the situation had subsequently escalated because of political concerns. The administration did not publicly clarify whether the final decision followed police advice or was taken independently.
Hasan said she had been in touch with the school for weeks ahead of the programme and had informed the institution that her address would focus on why pluralism matters. No objection to the theme had been communicated to her during preparations.
Arrangements had been made for school representatives to accompany her to the campus. Instead, members of the school’s security staff went to her residence on Friday morning and told her that her participation had been cancelled because of concerns over her safety and that of the school community. Hasan said no police officer contacted her directly.
The programme had been scheduled to begin at 10 am and combined the school’s Independence Day observance with its scholarship award ceremony. Despite the dispute outside, the remaining function was conducted in the school auditorium without disruption.
The episode drew criticism from academics and public figures who argued that authorities should have protected the scheduled address rather than allow a protest to affect it. Economist and former JNU professor Jayati Ghosh questioned why a lecture on pluralism by an academic should be prevented. Delhi University professor Apoorvanand also criticised the handling of the situation, arguing that police should have controlled protesters while allowing the programme to continue as planned.
Hasan is a prominent scholar of politics, democracy, political parties, minorities, gender and social policy. She has served as dean of JNU’s School of Social Sciences and was a member of the National Commission for Minorities between 2006 and 2009. Her academic work has examined political representation, secularism, social inequality and the functioning of democratic institutions.
(IPA Service)
