The latest controversy around Delhi's St Stephen’s College refuses to die down. Devansh Mehta, a student of third year Philosophy Hons, and founding member of online magazine "Stephen’s Weekly", who had been suspended from the college with immediate effect as he was "found to be guilty [of] breaching the discipline of the college", has taken the principal to court.
A “good conduct” prize earlier announced for Mehta had already been withdrawn. Mehta has, in turn, now accused the college principal, Valson Thampu, of putting "fetters on the much celebrated fundamental right to free expression" in the appeal against his suspension. Even as the issue is now pending in the Delhi High Court, Mehta’s suspension has drawn strong reactions from students, alumni and parents alike.
A group of Stephanians had earlier anonymously created a parody website called "Sant Stefans Weakly", which closely resembles Mehta's banned magazine that set off this series of events in motion, as it was banned by Thampu, even though he had given an interview to it, once he found that it was online before he could review it.
"I told them I myself will be their staff adviser and that they shouldn't publish anything that's not cleared by the college," Thampu had then said to the Times of India. "Even a pencil cannot be manufactured without a licence. The written word has its own sanctity and authority. I certainly want to ensure that what's published is of a standard.” For Mehta, this had defeated the very purpose of the weekly: “He [Thampu] appointed himself as a staff advisor and then wanted to look at the transcripts of the interview before it got published turning himself into an editor of the publication.”
The parody website that calls itself an “e-zine band by Waldo Champu” on its "About" page , specifically targets Thampu:
In response, Thampu is alleged to have posted the following message on his Facebook page and the alumni group:
However, it is alleged, that Thampu decided to delete the above once students started responding and countering him online. Thampu then apparently left another message (screenshot below) on the group.
On Wednesday, students decided to respond to Thampu’s message with a poem titled “For Champu, with louwe” which mocks the college’s attempt to ban the magazine and calls it “our lovely police-statelet” and concludes with these lines:
Nonetheless, you have been gracious,
in addressing our mockery
with the same vigour that you reserve
for important things, like crockery.
Now that you know we mean no harm,
we hope it’s not a slog
for you to grant a baffled crowd
a little dialogue.
For in the end it’s just us, sir.
They will depart who fawn.
Leaving you with us – your legacy.
Us and some gorgeous lawns.
Scroll got in touch with creators of the Sant Stefans Weakly, who responded with the following statement to a set of questions:
Earlier, other students speaking to Scroll on condition of anonymity, echoed the same sentiment and said that college authorities were getting tough with all those who have spoken in support of the banned weekly. “Those who are found speaking to the media are suspended straight away,” a student said. “He [Thampu] is irritated with the attention it has generated and action is being taken against students in the name of discipline,” she said.
Another student said that a majority of the students are planning to boycott the upcoming convocation function in the college as a mark of protest.
A “good conduct” prize earlier announced for Mehta had already been withdrawn. Mehta has, in turn, now accused the college principal, Valson Thampu, of putting "fetters on the much celebrated fundamental right to free expression" in the appeal against his suspension. Even as the issue is now pending in the Delhi High Court, Mehta’s suspension has drawn strong reactions from students, alumni and parents alike.
A group of Stephanians had earlier anonymously created a parody website called "Sant Stefans Weakly", which closely resembles Mehta's banned magazine that set off this series of events in motion, as it was banned by Thampu, even though he had given an interview to it, once he found that it was online before he could review it.
"I told them I myself will be their staff adviser and that they shouldn't publish anything that's not cleared by the college," Thampu had then said to the Times of India. "Even a pencil cannot be manufactured without a licence. The written word has its own sanctity and authority. I certainly want to ensure that what's published is of a standard.” For Mehta, this had defeated the very purpose of the weekly: “He [Thampu] appointed himself as a staff advisor and then wanted to look at the transcripts of the interview before it got published turning himself into an editor of the publication.”
Getting personal
The parody website that calls itself an “e-zine band by Waldo Champu” on its "About" page , specifically targets Thampu:
In response, Thampu is alleged to have posted the following message on his Facebook page and the alumni group:
I think it is only fair that I post it here. SPOOF ON THAMPU. I AM DELIGHTED! I wish to thank all those 'hidden' geniuses (or geniuses in the bush) for honouring me in this fashion. There are reasons- (a) This is the first time that they are showing any sign of creativity. Graduating from the habit of spewing poison on everyone and anything to creating a toe-hold (however tenuous) on the borderline of creativity is a great achievement and is wholly to be commended. To thank that I am responsible for forcing them out of their rat holes of malicious meddlesomeness towards seeing a glimmer of creativity is truly flattering. (b) Going by the newspaper report, they have started reading my theological works! There is a reference to a series of reflections I wrote in 2005 as a commentary on a biblical text. Who in the world would have thought that this illustrious company gutter-inspectors would have taken a theological turn! Good Heavens!! What is this world coming to? I must, however, warn them. They should be careful. If they persist with reading my works, it could have a civilizing effect on them. This is too perilous to be contemplated, given their tastes and proclivities. (c) Only truly important people -highly impactful individuals- are spoofed. Till now I had doubts if I belonged to this illustrious company. The likes of the present College-baiters will never be spoofed. There is an old proverb saying no one will bother to pelt stones at a barren tree. Or, to use a different metaphor, no one will kick a dead donkey. I wish to thank all concerned for the singular recognition conferred on me. My only sadness is that I cannot thank each one of them appropriately for this singular service, on account of their self-effacing anonymity. WELL DONE, nonetheless. Principal Thampu/ Alias Waldo Champu. Please include me on your mailing list. Also, if you have time read something on cultivating a sense of humour. It might come handy. I shall be happy to contribute to the magazine, believe me.
However, it is alleged, that Thampu decided to delete the above once students started responding and countering him online. Thampu then apparently left another message (screenshot below) on the group.
On Wednesday, students decided to respond to Thampu’s message with a poem titled “For Champu, with louwe” which mocks the college’s attempt to ban the magazine and calls it “our lovely police-statelet” and concludes with these lines:
Nonetheless, you have been gracious,
in addressing our mockery
with the same vigour that you reserve
for important things, like crockery.
Now that you know we mean no harm,
we hope it’s not a slog
for you to grant a baffled crowd
a little dialogue.
For in the end it’s just us, sir.
They will depart who fawn.
Leaving you with us – your legacy.
Us and some gorgeous lawns.
A section titled “Interview: A peak into Champu’s conscience”, apparently satirising the interview that landed Mehta into trouble, greets one with a 404 error page which says, “the thing you are looking for does not exist.” The website also features a "konversation" called "Koffee with Kamal", where “Waldo Champu” is being interviewed and all of his responses, even to most innocuous of questions are censored. In yet another send up, those wanting to file a “compliant” can click on the tab at the top and get greeted with the response asking them to direct the complaints to the “one man committee at: sanjaylaofayde@gmail.com”, which appears to be a pun on the name of Sanjay Rao Ayde, Senior Tutor, who was appointed as the "one-man inquiry commission" to investigate the ban.
Scroll got in touch with creators of the Sant Stefans Weakly, who responded with the following statement to a set of questions:
"Our anonymity leads many people to the conclusion that we are against Thampu and with the alumni who spend too much time obsessing about this. We are against both. We believe the conversation needs to begin with students inside college. But they are often to afraid to start because Thampu wields far too much power. He will disqualify you from awards. Throw you out of the hostel, jeopardise any posts you may get from a society, etc. He has done all of these things in the past and so we choose to remain anonymous."
Earlier, other students speaking to Scroll on condition of anonymity, echoed the same sentiment and said that college authorities were getting tough with all those who have spoken in support of the banned weekly. “Those who are found speaking to the media are suspended straight away,” a student said. “He [Thampu] is irritated with the attention it has generated and action is being taken against students in the name of discipline,” she said.
Another student said that a majority of the students are planning to boycott the upcoming convocation function in the college as a mark of protest.
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