We The People: Campuses Not Free Spaces Any More?

The violent protests outside Ramjas college of Delhi University have once again raised the question of how free are Indians to exercise their freedom of speech - a right that is enshrined in our constitution. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said that freedom of speech cannot come at the cost of challenging the country's sovereignty. On We The People, we ask: isn't the idea behind the freedom of speech to defend thoughts and voices that are uncomfortable? Isn't communicating the government's shortcomings a necessary element of a pluralist society and a democracy like India? If we stifle the freedom to grapple with uncomfortable ideas right at the grassroots, that is, our educational institutions, where are we as a society headed?