On 19th August, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai banned the student organisation Progressive Students Forum (PSF). The organisation is affiliated to Left-leaning Students Federation of India (SFI). In its notice issued banning PSF, TISS said that it has been misleading students and defaming the institute. Earlier in April, TISS banned PhD student and PSF member Ramadas Prini Sivanandan for repetitive misconduct and anti-national activities.
The notice banning the organisation was signed by Registrar Professor Anil Sutar. TISS designated PSF as an “unauthorised and illegal forum” on its campus and accused them of misleading students, obstructing the functioning of the institute, creating division among the students and faculty and defaming the institute. The notice read, “This group has been engaging in activities that obstruct the institute’s functions, defame the institute, demean members of our community, and create divisions among students and faculty. It has been observed that this group is misleading, distracting and misguiding students from their academic pursuit and harmonious life in the campus.”
TISS has prohibited PSF members from organising or participating in any events on the campus and warned them if they attempt to do so it “will be met with immediate intervention and consequences”. TISS further urged the students to report any encounters with PSF members to campus security which will handle the reporting with the utmost confidentiality. Stating that the institute is committed to maintaining a safe and collaborative academic environment, TISS said, “Any student or faculty member found supporting, associating with, or propagating the group’s divisive ideologies will face disciplinary action as per institute policies,” in the notice.
TISS student and PSF member suspended for two years for anti-national activities
A PhD candidate at TISS, Ramadas Prini Sivanandan, was suspended for two years on 18th April for “repeated misconduct and anti-national activities.” The suspension followed his involvement in a protest march against the central government’s policies, which the institute viewed as a breach of discipline. The suspension also barred him from TISS campuses and cited a show-cause notice questioning his actions, including screening controversial documentaries and organising unauthorised events. Ramadas, a member of the Student Federation of India, is accused of using the institute’s resources for political purposes, which the administration claims tarnishes the institution’s reputation.
PSF’s controversial history
According to a report in the Indian Express, the members of PSF expressed surprise over the timing of the ban as it happened minutes before their planned signature campaign to submit a complaint to the TISS Chancellor concerning several issues. They were planning to challenge the ban. PSF has got into a lot of controversies over the past couple of years. In January 2023, PSD participated in he screening of the controversial BBC documentary “India: The Modi Question” inside the campus despite the ban imposed on the documentary by the government of India.
In March 2023, PSF protested outside the director’s house claiming that the administration did not allow them to hold the Bhagat Singh Memorial Lecture (BSML) by propagandist Harsh Mander and JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh. In November 2023, they opposed the changes brought in the TISS admission process where TISS discontinued its entrance test and said admissions would be based on the results of CUET.
OpIndia went through the history of PSF on social media and found the organisation has consistently supported the “Palestinian cause” and posted anti-Israel content. In one of the posts, they used the highly objectionable and controversial slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” which talks about eradicating Israel from the map. The post came just five days after the brutal terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas that killed 1,300 Israelis and foreigners.
In another post, they expressed solidarity with Newsclick’s Prabir Purkayastha who was booked under UAPA for allegedly taking money from China for anti-India activities. The Delhi Police arrested Newsclick founder and editor Prabir Purkayastha and HR head Amit Chakravarty on 3rd October 2023 under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Delhi Police raided and sealed the NewsClick office on the same day in relation to the case involving foreign funding from China to spread narratives that were critical of India.
PSF was also part of the statement issued by six student’ organisations in April 2024 against the circular issued by the TISS administration on the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the students and staff around the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. PSF was active on the campus for over a decade. Members of PSF held several Student Union positions including the vice-president of the outgoing SU.
