‘Hum dekhenge’ probe closed in IIT-Kanpur

Kanpur, March 17 (IANS) An inquiry by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kanpur against the recitation of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poem ‘Hum dekhenge’ on the campus by a student during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) last December, has been “closed”.

Deputy Director Manindra Agarwal said that the inquiry committee has recommended “counselling” of those involved in the incident.

“We did not have to go into Faiz poem’s interpretation. The person who read the poem accepted that he should not have recited it at that time and also expressed regret in case anybody’s sentiments were hurt. The matter is closed,” said Agarwal, who was heading the six-member committee.

He said the report was submitted last week and it was concluded that the time and place was not the most suitable to recite the poem.

On December 17, 2019 a peaceful protest was held by about 300 students of the institute on its premises to express solidarity with their peers at Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi.

A student recited the poem during the protest against which a complaint was filed by Vashimant Sharma, a temporary faculty member, and about 16 others, including students.

The written complaint filed with the institute’s director, said that the poem had some wordings that could hurt the sentiments of Hindus.

IIT-Kanpur had formed the committee in January to inquire into the complaint.

There was a war of words on social media between those supporting the recitation of the poem and those who opposed it.

–IANS

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