Zoya Hasan’s lecture on ‘Pluralism’ cancelled at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya; academics react

An Independence Day lecture by eminent scholar Prof. Zoya Hasan at Delhi’s Sardar Patel Vidyalaya was cancelled at the last-minute today after people identifying themselves as Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) members gathered outside the school, according to several parents who spoke to Careers360 . The incident has drawn criticism from parents, academics, writers and others on social media.

As part of the school’s Independence Day function, Hasan was scheduled to deliver a lecture on “Pluralism” at around 10 am. Parents said before the programme, around 10 to 15 VHP members gathered at the school gate and created a commotion.

The parents said Delhi Police subsequently arrived at the school, although the school said it had not called the police. Parents said that Hasan’s lecture was ultimately cancelled and an alumnus of the school presided as the chief guest at the event. JNU Prof. Zoya Hasan and the school principal could not be reached for comment.

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The incident was first shared on platform X by academic and economist Jayati Ghosh. In a series of posts, Ghosh questioned the police intervention and the circumstances surrounding the cancellation.

She said that although a few VHP protesters were present at the gate, the police presence was much larger, and questioned who had called the police. The post reads, "They forced the protesting school authorities to cancel the programme (for the first time in its history) on grounds of Prof Hasan's security! But the few VHP protestors at the gate were vastly outnumbered by police (called by whom?)."

Ghosh further alleged that when informal pressure did not work, security concern was cited as the basis for the last-minute action. The post reads, "When informal pressure on the School from official sources to cancel the programme failed, they resorted to this extreme last-minute measure. A lecture to schoolchildren on pluralism, by one of our most eminent social scientists, is too much for our current leaders to handle!"

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Scholars, writers question cancellation

Delhi University professor Apoorvanand criticised the police intervention, saying the Delhi Police should have restrained those he described as “lumpens” of the VHP instead of forcing school to cancel talk by Hasan. He criticised the decision of not letting students meet Hasan. The tweet reads, "The children would find out on their own who Prof. Hasan is they were prevented from meeting."

Columnist Nilanjana Roy also criticised the cancellation and questioned the decision to prevent young people from hearing about India’s pluralism on Independence Day. Her post reads, "The timing is spectacular. Of course you don't want the Youth to hear about India's fundamental pluralism on Independence Day, they might start demanding liberty, equality and fraternity, and then where would the country be?"

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She highlighted Hasan’s argument that India’s democracy has worked because no single culture, language or identity is central to the country’s identity or unity.Roy also shared Hasan’s argument that nationalism based on a single religious, linguistic or ethnic identity can lead to majoritarianism. She highlighted the scholar’s view that India’s post-1947 national identity was shaped by an inclusive nationalism in which everyone who constitutes the nation is included as an equal citizen and national development is linked to the welfare of all people.

Another user commented, "I am not surprised though. A few years ago, our honourable HM was that school's chief guest at some function."

Neither the school nor the Delhi Police has issued any statement on this incident.