UCDE Pamphlet Against Patriarchal Ruling Class

Maharashtra State Women's Commission member and NCP leader Ms. Asha Mirje has claimed that the women themselves are responsible for increasing incidents of rape and other anti-women crimes! She asked that whether it was necessary for Nirbhaya (the brave victim of 16 December Delhi Gangrape) to watch a movie at 11 PM? She has pinned the blame for recent rape cases on the victims themselves. Ms. Mirje said that the women should not dress "provocatively" (?!), they should mind their company(?!), should not behave in an "inviting" (?!) way! Such misogynist remarks from a member of Maharashtra State Women's Commission and a prominent NCP leader are not shocking indeed! This only shows the patriarchal and misogynist psyche of those sitting in the ruling establishment, irrespective of the party to which they belong. This also shows that even women can become carrier of patriarchal values.
UCDE has issued one pamphlet on this issue. Please scroll down to see complete pamphlet in English, हिन्‍दी & मराठी
In English



हिन्‍दी में



 मराठी में





Students' Charter Movement of Mumbai University

Students' Charter Movement of Mumbai University

Read Pamphlet in English, Hindi and Marathi

In English



 हिन्‍दी में



 मराठी में



VICTORY MARCH

University Community for Democracy and Equality (UCDE)
calls everyone to join
VICTORY MARCH
9 AM, January 20, Kalina Campus, MU
Revocation of Prof. Neeraj Hatekar's Suspension is a Victory for Campus Democracy!
Lets unite our voices once again to celebrate this victory for Campus Democracy!
Long Live OUR UNITY! Long Live CAMPUS DEMOCRACY!
Contact: 9619039793, 9769903589
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/ucdemu

A Memorable Victory for Students' Movement!

Long Live Student-Teacher-Karamchari Unity!
Long Live Campus Democracy!
A Memorable Victory for Students' Movement!
Dear Friends,
The suspension of Prof. Neeraj Hatekar has finally been revoked after 13 days of students' protests. On January 4, Prof. Hatekar had been suspended in an extremely undemocratic fashion by the MU authorities for raising questions about our welfare, the functioning of the university and the irregularities going on in the university. On January 6, on the call of the UCDE, a students' protest was organized demanding the revocation of Prof. Hatekar's unjust suspension. On January 8, again, a protest was organized which was attended by approximately 400 students. When the MU authorities continued to show their callous attitude to the demands raised by the students, the students again organized Silent Protest on January 12. After that, on the call of the UCDE, students of MU held a general body meeting on January 15; it was decided in the GBM that on January 20, the students will hold a One-day Hunger Strike against the tyranny of MU authorities. Finally, on January 19, the MU authorities yielded to the demands of the students and consequently revoked the suspension of Prof. Neeraj Hatekar.
Friends, this is a victory of our collective strength and organization. The protests organized by us have been an embarrassment for the MU authorities, as the whole world was watching the simmering discontent among the MU students. The UCDE has always believed that the issue of Prof. Hatekar was not simply an issue of suspension of a teacher; it was an issue of Campus Democracy. Therefore, the revocation of suspension is a victory for Campus Democracy. This also shows that we must not stop here and continue our fight to expand the democratic space within the campus. However, at this moment, we must also convey the message of this victory among all our student friends of the campus. So, the UCDE calls upon all students, teachers and karamcharis to join a VICTORY MARCH on January 20 at 9 AM in the Kalina Campus.
University Community for Democracy and Equality (UCDE)
calls everyone to join
VICTORY MARCH
9 AM, January 20, Kalina Campus, Mumbai University
Lets unite our voices once again to celebrate this victory for Campus Democracy!
Long Live OUR UNITY! Long Live CAMPUS DEMOCRACY!
Call issued by:
University Community for Democracy and Equality (UCDE)


ucde.mu@gmail.com, 9619039793, 9769903589, https://www.facebook.com/ucdemu


One day HUNGER STRIKE & SIT-IN PROTEST against the unjust suspension of Prof. Neeraj Hatekar

University Community for Democracy and Equality (UCDE) 
calls upon all students and members of the MU community to join a one day HUNGER STRIKE & SIT-IN PROTEST against the unjust suspension of Prof. Neeraj Hatekar
Time & Date: 9 AM, January 20, 2014
Venue: Kalina Campus Gate, Mumbai University.



Press coverage of silent protest organised on 12th January



Times of India

DNA

Hindustan times
Free press journal

Deccan Herald



नवभारत टाइम्‍स
लोकसत्‍ता
दिव्‍य मराठी

प्रहार



GENERAL BODY MEETING to discuss the future strategy of the students' movement against the unjust suspension of Prof. Neeraj Hate

University Community for Democracy and Equality (UCDE) calls all students to join a

GENERAL BODY MEETING

of all concerned students and other members of MU community to discuss the future strategy of the students' movement against the unjust suspension of Prof. Neeraj Hatekar.
2 PM, January 15, 2014, Green Shade near Canteen.
Dear Friends,
Today's Silent Protest was a success and the voice of our silence was heard, which was demonstrated by the paranoid MU administration which deployed Police for common silent protest of students. It only shows that we are on the right path. But till now the burden of strategy-making rests on the shoulder of a few students. We believe that the process of decision-making in the movement must be democratized and common students should be involved in this process so that we can run the movement in more creative and innovative ways and so that the common students from all department can become part of the movement. Therefore, we are calling upon all students of MU to join a GENERAL BODY MEETING of the students who have been participating or want to participate in this movement for campus democracy.
So, we urge every sensitive, democratic and concerned student to join this GBM.With Revolutionary Regards,
University Community for Democracy and Equality (UCDE)

Silent protest organised today in Mumbai University

Students of Mumbai University hold a Silent Protest Against the Suspension of Economics Teacher

12 Jan. 2014, Mumbai University, Kalina. Mumbai University students today held a Silent Protest against the disputed suspension of Prof. Neeraj Hatekar of Economics Department for raising questions about the functioning of Mumbai University authorities. It is noteworthy that University Community for Democracy and Equality (UCDE), an independent forum of MU students had issued a call on January 8 (which also was a day of protest) to students, teachers and karamcharis of MU to join this Silent Protest. Today, around 9 AM students started gathering in the Kalina Campus for this demonstration. Soon the number of students reached around 100, despite the fact that it was Sunday and also the day of Convocation of MU. UCDE had been running pamphleteering and postering campaign for this campaign. Today, some other organizations also extended their support to the movement waged by students of MU like the SFI, AAP etc. Students have started a campaign to save MU from dictatorial high-handedness of the MU authorities and also for other demands of the students.
Prashant, spokesperson and member of Convening Committee of the UCDE said, "Today we have gathered here to show our unity and also our solidarity with Prof. Hatekar. However, we have been saying right since the beginning of the movement that this is not just an issue of the suspension of one teacher; we are running this movement for the democratization of the University and the just demands of the students. Discontent against the mismanagements and irregularities within the MU just exploded on the issue of suspension of Prof. Hatekar. The fact that today students not only from the Economics Department, but also from other departments came in the protest, despite its being a Sunday, also demonstrates the fact that this is not a movement of the Economics department students alone. It’s a movement of all concerned students, teachers and karamcharis of the MU."
Narayan Kharade, member of Convening Committee of UCDE, said, "Today a number of students from departments as varied as Theatre and Arts department, Sociology, etc joined the protest only shows that the protest movement of students is steadily growing. Today's protest was a success and we are going to call a general body meeting of the students of MU to decide the further strategy of the movement. We believe that all the students participating in the movement should be a part of the decision-making process and involvement of all common students will only enrich the movement in unimaginable ways. The VC must understand that such a dictatorial functioning of the MU authorities cannot go on like this forever. The students are slowly understanding the the suspension of Prof. Hatekar is an issue of concern for every common student of MU."
Savita, a student of Economics department said that various other organizations like AAP, SFI, etc are extending their support to the movement, which is quite encouraging. However, this is a movement of common and independent students of MU and it will remain so. Param from UCDE said that everybody knows that all the VCs of the universities of India have got political patronage of this or that electoral party. If the electoral parties want to support this movement altruistically, without any narrow politcal interest, they must show that their support is genuine by taking this issue to Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. If their MLAs can organize a strike to raise their pay and allowances, which are already quite high and above the common people of India, then they can easily sit on protest in the Legislative Assembly. Without such a gesture, we do not think that we have got the luxury to put our trust on the electoral parties. However, if they extend their support from outside, they are welcome.
The students are considering the option of sitting on relay hunger strike or an indefinite dharna. The future strategy of the movement will be decided by a general body meeting which has been called by the UCDE. Till now, there is no positive response from the MU authorities. However, students are optimistic that their movement will force the authorities to listen to their demands and reconsider their decision of suspending Prof. Hatekar.







Silent protest against the unjust suspension of Prof. Neeraj Hatekar



calls upon all students, teachers and karamcharis of Mumbai University to join a
SILENT PROTEST
against the unjust suspension of Prof. Neeraj Hatekar and the high-handedness of the MU authorities.
8.30 AM, 12 JANUARY, 2014, KALINA CAMPUS GATE.

Join in large number to make our voices heard!


Long Live Student-Teacher-Karamchari Unity!




AN IMPORTANT QUESTION FACING THE MOVEMENT OF MU STUDENTS AGAINST THE SUSPENSION OF PROF. HATEKAR.

The spontaneous movement of the students and other members of the MU community against the suspension of Prof. Neeraj Hatekar is slowly gathering momentum. 

However, there are some things about which every student participating in the movement, and especially the students of the Economics department, should be concerned. Its noteworthy that the students of MU themselves started the movement immediately after the suspension of Prof. Hatekar. UCDE gave a call for protest demonstration on January 6. After that demonstration various ELECTORAL POLITICAL PARTIES also have tried to make incursions into the movement. This is a very alarming development. We know that the other universities like Delhi University, Allahabad University, etc have been turned into training centers for becoming MLAs-MPs by these very electoral political parties. 

Do we really want that fate for our university as well? Do we really want it to become a center of politics of money-power and muscle-power? Do we want lumpenization, criminalization and academic deterioration of our campus? If not, then we must organize our movement independently on the principle: BY THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY, FOR THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY, OF THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY! If anyone wants to support our movement, we welcome them. However, we should not allow them to hijack this independent, spontaneous and healthy movement of students and other members of the University Community for a genuine demand; we should not allow any electoral political force to turn the campus into their wrestling arena. We must understand the importance of this issue.

Press coverage for demonstration of 8 January

Times of India

पुढारी

लोकसत्‍ता

Students of MU held another protest today

Press Release
Students of MU held another protest today
8­ Jan. 2014, Mumbai University, Kalina. The students of Mumbai University took to streets agains the disputed suspension of Prof. Neeraj Hatekar today in the Kalina Campus. Around 300 students jammed the gates of the Mumbai University for about 4 hours. Students not only from the Economics department, to which Prof. Hatekar belongs, but even from other departments joined the protest in huge numbers. University Community for Democracy and Equality had led a massive postering and pamphleteering campaign to spread the word about this protest demonstration. A pamphlet against the allegedly arbitrary suspension of Prof. Hatekar was issued by the UCDE and was distributed among hundreds of students from the last evening.
Apart from the pamphlets, the students also covered the MU notice boards with the posters of this protest demonstration. From the morning around 8:30 AM, students began to gather at the gates of the Kalina Campus. By 10 AM the number of students reached to about 300. Apart from UCDE, various electoral political parties also extended support to this movement of students which is slowly gathering momentum.

Savita, a student of the Economics department told the media persons that the suspension of a teacher like Prof. Hatekar only shows that there is something terribly wrong with the MU authorities. If Prof. Hatekar was not right in asking questions the MU authorities should have invited him for open debate. But the manner in which he has been removed only shows that all is not well with the MU administration.
Prashant, the spokesperson and Convening Committee member of UCDE told the media that the suspension of Prof. Hatekar is not an issue of the Economics department only. It is an issue of the entire University democracy, an ideal that every sensitive University student cherishes. He said that the high-handedness of the MU administration is characteristic of a draconian rule inside the University, which is plagued with a number of academic and administrative irregularities. Prashant said that soon the UCDE will organize a Students' charter movement for these issues, which in fact, were raised by Prof. Hatekar too.
University Community for Democracy and Equality has called upon the students, teachers and karamcharis of the entire MU to join A SILENT PROTEST DEMONSTRATION ON JANUARY 12 ORGANIZED BY THE UCDE. This day is a Sunday and is going to witness the Convocation Program of the MU. Various eminent personalities have been invited to this program and the students are going to send mails and letters to these persons urging them not to be a part of this program when such unjust and arbitrary practices are being followed by the University administration itself. Prashant urged all the students and teachers of various colleges also to join the Silent Protest on January 12 in Kalina Campus to express solidarity with Prof. Hatekar as well as the protesting students.
Prashant
(spokesperson)

University Community for Democracy and Equality (UCDE)










Protest demonstration against the unjust suspension of Prof. Neeraj Hatekar

Universtiy Community for Democracy and Equality (UCDE)

calls upon every justice-loving student, teacher, and karamchari of the Mumbai University to join a

PROTEST DEMONSTRATIon

of students of MU against the unjust suspension of Prof. Neeraj Hatekar

8:30 AM, 8th January, 2014
Kalina Campus Gate, Mumbai University.

Down with high-handedness of MU administration!


Revoke the Suspension of Prof. Neeraj Hatekar!!


Press coverage of demonstration held on 6 January 2014

Times of India


DNA

Hindustan times


Mumbai Mirror

नवभारत टाइम्‍स

प्रहार

पुढारी

लोकसत्‍ता


Press Release

UCDE holds protest demonstration in Mumbai University against the suspension of Economics professor

6­ Jan. 2014, Mumbai University, Kalina. Independent forum of Mumbai University students, University Community for Democracy and Equality (UCDE) held a protest demonstration against the disputed suspension of the Mumbai University Economics professor Neeraj Hatekar. Its noteworthy that Prof. Hatekar have been voicing his concern over the administrative and academic irregularities in the Mumbai University for a long time. UCDE, a forum of MU students which has been fighting for students rights and demands in the MU, today came in support of Prof. Hatekar and after a huge procession of students, held a sit-in protest at the gates of Kalina Campus, Mumbai University.
At the protest, spokesperson and convening committee member of UCDE, Prashant told the press persons that Prof. Hatekar has impeccable academic record and a loved teacher of Econometrics in the Economics department of the MU. Its shocking to witness such a dictatorial action on the part of the VC. Its known that Prof. Hatekar has been raising questions about the undemocratic functioning of the University. Prashant told that UCDE extends its unequivocal support to Prof. Hatekar and his struggle for transparency in the University.
Param, a member of UCDE told that the MU is a prestigious institution and its expected from the authorities of such an institution to at least follow the due administrative process and democratic procedure. However, the authorities has gone out of the way to get rid of Prof. Hatekar, since he has been asking inconvenient questions. Several students from Economics department expressed solidarity with Prof. Hatekar and assured that they would continue to protest until this unjust decision of the VC is revoked with immediate effect.
The demonstration also got support from student council members of the MU along with support from several teachers. Various teachers have voiced their concern about this action of the MU administration and supported the protesting students. UCDE spokesperson Prashant told the media persons that if the MU administration refuses to respond to their demand, the agitation will be intensified. They will also run a signature campaign in support of Prof. Hatekar and submit it to the Chief Minister, Education Minister and Governor of Maharashtra if the MU administration refuses to listen to students' demands.
Prashant
(spokesperson)

University Community for Democracy and Equality (UCDE)