Mumbai: IITB asks faculty, students to seek approval for guest speakers after pro-Gaza row

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The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) has introduced new protocols mandating prior approval for faculty and students intending to invite external speakers or screen content perceived as "political or potentially controversial."

This decision follows a recent demonstration outside the IITB campus, where guest speakers were accused of allegedly glorifying terrorism while discussing the Palestinian freedom struggle against Israel.

According to the guidelines issued on November 14, events featuring external speakers or movie/documentary screenings require clearance from a committee appointed by the Director, facilitated by the Dean. These guidelines were shared on the social media platform X by the Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle, a left-leaning student organization, which labeled it a "gag" order. When approached for comment, IIT Bombay did not respond.

The guidelines state that faculty members must seek prior approval from the Head of the Academic unit before inviting external speakers or screening documentaries/movies, particularly if the content is political or potentially controversial. However, if the talk or content is purely non-political, no such permission is required.

Student-organized events must be approved by the Dean and can only be conducted through the recognized campus body, part of the students' gymkhana. For events involving external speakers or screenings, the Dean must obtain clearance from a committee appointed by the Director.

Also read: Pro-Gaza row: IIT Bombay faculty rally behind speaker

To scrutinize external speakers, the IITB Director will establish an External Speakers Review Committee, responsible for reviewing details such as the speaker's biodata, abstract of the talk, public links, and recorded material provided by the hosting faculty member.

In order to vet the external speakers, an External Speakers Review Committee will be appointed by the IITB Director which will review the details of the speaker/videos including the speaker's biodata, abstract of the talk, public links on the speaker and talk, copies of recorded material to be played at the event. The information must be provided by the faculty member who is hosting the event/talk/seminar.

The guidelines were issued after a protest was held on November 11 outside the IITB seeking the arrest of a professor and a guest speaker for allegedly glorifying terrorism while talking about the Palestinian freedom struggle against Israel.

The protesters, associated with the Vivek Vichar Manch linked to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), claimed that Deshpande had glorified Palestinian militant Zakaria Zubeidi, allegedly part of the designated terror organization al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, admitting to meeting him in 2015. (With inputs from PTI)