The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay cancelled a scheduled lecture titled ‘Israel-Palestine: The Historical Context’ by Professor Achin Vanaik. The lecture was previously scheduled for Monday morning, but was then rescheduled to Tuesday evening. Students then received an email from the institute's Department of Humanities on Tuesday informing them that the lecture has been cancelled "due to unforeseen circumstances".
The proposed lecture by Professor Achin Vanaik, former head of the Department of Political Science at Delhi University, was expected to focus on the history of the conflict between Israel and Palestine and consequences of the latest outbreak of violence.
However, his lecture was cancelled after a group of students from IIT Bombay opposed it via email, citing concerns over his alleged remarks on the war during a lecture he delivered at a private university in Haryana's Sonipat recently.
On November 1, Professor Vanaik delivered a lecture at the private university on ‘History and Politics of Palestinian Present’. Some clips from the lecture went viral on social media with some BJP leaders alleging that the event and the professor's remarks were in support of Hamas. A spokesperson of the uUniversity rubbished the allegation, saying “the videos have been taken out of context”.
The professor too reportedly clarified that video clips of his lecture were taken out of context, according to a report by Indian Express.
The Palestinian death toll has surpassed 10,300, two-thirds of them women and minors, according to the the Health Ministry of the Gaza Strip. More than 2,300 people are missing and believed to be buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings, the ministry said.
