JU Autonomy - Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen's Solidarity Message and Media Release for Press Conference
As was announced earlier, the alumni of Jadavpur University hosted a press conference on 29th October, 2026 at 3:00 PM at the Seminar Hall of Alumni Association NCE Bengal & JU on Jadavpur University Main Campus.
1) Message from Nobel Laureate & Bharat Ratna Prof. Amartya Sen: JU Alumni are overwhelmed and grateful for receiving "Prof. Sen's message in solidarity". JU alumni are proud that Prof. Sen was the first Professor and the inaugural Head of the Economics Department of the newly created Jadavpur University in 1956 (till 1958).
"I am shocked to hear about the terrible attack on Jadavpur University. The need to protect people from political violence has never been stronger. Along with all others in my country, people pursuing education in different campuses need support. Jadavpur University is where I began my teaching life 70 years ago and my solidarity with this great university runs very deep. But freedom from violence is a right that we all share. The sectarian ideas behind the violence that has been unleashed demand unhesitating condemnation."
2) Press Release (29 October 2026):
*APPEAL Of FORMER STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND TEACHING STAFF OF JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY*
Deeply dismayed by recent incidents of disruption and vandalism in the campus of Jadavpur University by trespassers and miscreants, all stakeholders of the University, students, scholars, teachers and non-teaching staff, both past and present, urgently seek the immediate intervention of the Chancellor of the University to ensure
• a peaceful and secured academic atmosphere in the University.
• the autonomy of a premier institution like Jadavpur University where the fundamental freedom of thought, expression and research have always been fostered, is not undermined.
• the institution is protected from any undesirable interference of political parties and/or government agencies.
• the interests of the academia are safeguarded by restricting the access of disruptive outsiders to the seat of learning, the reputation of which is at stake.
A written memorandum was handed over to the Vice-Chancellor of the University on 27 August 2026 by a group of aggrieved alumni and former teachers. Meanwhile an on-line petition urging for immediate action to solve the issues has been signed by alumnus and former teachers worldwide and the signing is being continued. On 11th September last the signature count was 5700 and that was handed over to the Honourable Chancellor. Now the signature count stands about 9500 and it will be again handed over to the Honourable Chancellor.
We are also concerned about growing attack on premier institutions of higher education like SRFTI, JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia University, Presidency University and others with a sinister motive of subverting the academic autonomy. We are also concerned about the way the ISI Bill 2026 is being enacted to completely overhaul the autonomous functioning of the institution established by Prashanta Chandra Mahalanabish.
We plan to hold a public convention soon to mobilize public opinion regarding the enormity of the situation, in the larger interests of academic freedom as a whole and the student community in particular.
Addressed by:
Shibajee Dey (Read out the message of Prof. Amartya Sen), Pranab Banerjee (former teacher, JU), Soumitra Basu (former teacher, JU), Sujato Bhadra (former teacher), Saswati Majumder (former teacher, JU), Tarun Kanti Naskar (former teacher, JU), Amitava Ganguly (former teacher. JU), Rajkumar Basak, Asim Chatterjee (retd. Non teaching staff), Abul Hossain (retd. Non teaching).
3) Media Coverage (regional & national):
1) https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/shocked-to-hear-about-attack-on-ju-freedom-from-violence-is-a-right-that-we-all-share-amartya-sen/articleshow/135326494.cms
2) https://www.anandabazar.com/education-career/amartya-sen-condemns-attack-on-educational-institutions-sends-message-for-ju-dgtl/cid/1722699
3) https://www.anandabazar.com/education-career/police-deployment-at-srfti-academics-raise-concerns-over-campus-autonomy-dgtl/cid/1722734
https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/kolkata/amartya-sen-expresses-shock-over-alleged-violence-at-jadavpur-university-calls-for-campus-safeguards/cid/2187010
4) https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/nobel-laureate-amartya-sen-expresses-shock-over-alleged-violence-at-jadavpur-university/articleshow/135351725.cms
5) https://m.sangbadpratidin.in/article/kolkata/nobel-laureate-amartya-sen-expresses-solidarity-to-the-students-movement-of-jadavpur-university-along-with-other-institutions/pid/1404853/
6) https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/nobel-laureate-amartya-sen-expresses-shock-over-alleged-violence-at-jadavpur-university-4200881
6) https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/kolkata-news/nobel-laureate-amartya-sen-expresses-shock-over-alleged-violence-at-jadavpur-university-101793347455173.html
7) https://m.sangbadpratidin.in/article/kolkata/nobel-laureate-amartya-sen-expresses-solidarity-to-the-students-movement-of-jadavpur-university-along-with-other-institutions/pid/1404853/
8) https://bartamanpatrika.com/news/clashes-with-police-at-srfti-amartya-sens-message-to-jadavpur
9) https://www.eaajkaal.in/epaperdetails/index/8a930958-0ab172d0-1c8d8996
4) Future Action Plan and Next Milestone:
Thanks for everybody's support and effort, more than nine thousand (9482 and counting) fellow JUite already signed this critical petition expressing their profound concerns about Jadavpur University's Academic Freedom and Autonomy. We would earnestly request each of you to share the petition further with your JU friends (say, at least five persons from department, chapter, home, work and so on...) as well as follow up with the persons with who you already shared this petition so that we may promptly reach our current milestone of 10,000 signatures and eventually the next milestone of 20,000 signatures and beyond. We aim to reach each and every JU student, teacher, researcher, alumni and well-wisher and hence need your proactive support. Furthermore, we request each of you to share your insights on our possible Future Action Plans because we do not want to remain passive just by raising an online petition and sharing it with the Chancellor, rather we would like to achieve a real tangible outcome for JU and all stakeholders.