In April, over 150 alumni of National Law University Jodhpur released a statement in support of current students protesting study material which allegedly claimed that homosexuality is a “disorder” or an “abnormality“.
On 11th April, an application was addressed to the VC of NLU Jodhpur, bringing it to her attention that homophobic material was being circulated to the students.
It has been a week of silence and inaction on her part. pic.twitter.com/SCCIGjQQpa
— Pride NLUJ (@Pride_NLUJ) April 18, 2020
On 11th April, an application was addressed to the VC of NLU Jodhpur, bringing it to her attention that homophobic material was being circulated to the students.
It has been a week of silence and inaction on her part. pic.twitter.com/SCCIGjQQpa
— Pride NLUJ (@Pride_NLUJ) April 18, 2020
“We unequivocally condemn the action of Dr Asha Bhandari in prescribing as essential reading only regressive and discriminatory material, shorn of all context and critical analysis, that propagates prejudice and perpetuates entrenches stereotypes against LGBTQI individuals.”
An Interim student body sought from the university’s Vice-Chancellor “corrigendum to be issued to the emails sent by Dr Asha Bhandari” who is an Assistant Professor, in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as a request for a new syllabus.
https://twitter.com/shreyamunot/status/1251270528540655616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1251270528540655616&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.livelaw.in%2Fnews-updates%2Frow-over-nlu-j-faculty-suggesting-study-materials-showing-homosexuality-as-disorder-155473
https://twitter.com/shreyamunot/status/1251270528540655616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1251270528540655616&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.livelaw.in%2Fnews-updates%2Frow-over-nlu-j-faculty-suggesting-study-materials-showing-homosexuality-as-disorder-155473
They also demanded a sensitisation session for all teaching staff on topics related to gender and sexuality.
The study material, shared by Dr Bhandari, has been claimed to be not only biased but also transphobic by students who believe that such material can hamper the LGBTQI community’s fight for rights.
On the other hand, in her clarification, Dr Bhandari said that she wanted to encourage genuine debate by sharing different perspectives.
The alumni hope there will be a probe against the professor and external review of the course materials provided.