'Daddy, don’t worry. I didn't do anything wrong': JNU student Anirban tells his father

Dr Nanda Madhav Bhattacharya is the 68-year-old father of Anirban Bhattacharya. His son and Umar Khalid are the two Jawaharlal Nehru University students who remain behind bars for organising the February 9 event at which anti-India slogans were allegedly shouted.

In an interview to Scroll.in, a distraught Dr Bhattacharya speaks about his son’s childhood, his affinity for the poor, the shock the family has been experiencing, his emotional meeting with his son in Tihar Jail, and his enduring faith that Anirban Bhattacharya wouldn’t do anything against India’s interests.

Where and what did you teach?
I was in Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyala, which is a state research university in West Bengal. I retired as professor of genetics. The university has campuses in Mohanpur and Kalyani [in Nadia district].

Which school did Anirban go to?
We are originally from Benaras. I started my career in Cooch Behar, where my university earlier had a campus. Anirban’s primary education started at Cooch Behar itself. Then he went to schools in Kalyani, Barrackpore…

Where did he do his Plus 2 from?
He did it from St Stephen’s School, Dum Dum, Kolkata. Then he went to St Stephen’s College, Delhi, where he was a residential student. History was his main subject.

Was a he a politically aware or conscious student in school?
I wouldn’t say he was very politically conscious. But he was interested in learning History. In fact, initially, he had thought of studying English. Then, in Plus 2, perhaps because of [the influence of] some teachers, he opted for history. He continued with it in Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Did he in St Stephen’s College begin to engage with, say, different ideas about nation, or become interested in politics, so to speak?
As a child, he was a bit different. I say this not only as a father but as a teacher as well.

In what sense was he different?
He was pretty honest. Once in school he went up to his teacher to get his marks deducted from what had been assigned to him. This was because the teacher had totaled his marks wrongly. The school was so impressed that it was announced this fact in the morning assembly.

I can say from Plus 2 onward, he struck me as a boy who was pro-people, and had feelings for the deprived people, for the working class. This was inherent in him. It was always there. But even in his undergraduate days, he was a quiet fellow and was definitely not outspoken. But I know he had a special feeling for the Left, for the underprivileged, even for the disabled.

Even for the disabled?
I, his friends, and other family members have seen him go out of his way to help, for instance, a blind person cross a road.

So where did his affinity for the poor and underprivileged come for?
Because of the environment of West Bengal or family discussions of idea you can call pro-left. It wasn’t just the family milieu, but also the environment of Cooch Behar and Barrackpore, where he grew up.

Did Anirban’s innate affinity for the poor take concrete shape in St Stephen’s College or subsequently in JNU?
His affinity for the poor may have got concretised in JNU, maybe because of the environment and his grooming there. Maybe… It is difficult for me to say [how and why his affinity for the poor was concretised].

But as a father I am very sure of one thing – he is very pro-national or nationalist. Many a times I suggested to Anirban that he should go abroad. Every father wants the best for his son.

But he always told me that his specialisation is in plantation workers [which is the subject of Anirban’s PhD thesis], and that he couldn’t possibly get more information on the subject in the UK or Germany than what he could in India. He was against taking a job in a foreign country. I wouldn’t want to use the word desh bhakt, but he was deeply connected to the soil of India, to its people, particularly the poor.

He was essentially academically minded, and he would discuss serious topics. At the same time, he was very popular among the children of his age-group in our [extended] family. They would enjoy his company because Anirban was witty. He also used to entertain the elders.

Did you and Anirban discuss politics?
Yes, on what is going on in the country, the current affairs. My profession was teaching and so obviously we would talk about all these things. But it wasn’t always because he used to come to Kolkata once or twice in a year.

Was he very open about where his sympathies lay? Were there ever disagreements between the two of you where you had to tell him that any of his ideas were wrong?
At least with me, never in our discussions did he express an opinion which I thought was wrong or bad. I used to listen to him mostly, since I am not a man of History.

What was your reaction when you came to know about the JNU controversy and that some students, including Anirban, have gone into hiding?
I and my family, as you perhaps know, are based in Kolkata. I think it was on the night of Feb 12 I switched on the TV and came to know for the first time that something controversial was happening in JNU. And that Anirban was part of it, and that he had been described as anti-national.

Was it a shock to you?
Definitely, it was a shock. It was unbelievable for me and my family. I can’t even explain to you my immediate reaction. On February 13, I booked my ticked and was in Delhi on the 14th.

You were quoted saying that you felt proud and you stand by his views.
As a father, I am proud of my son because he is a good student, has always been very serious about his studies. He gets involved in what he studies. I am definitely proud of him. Very recently, he topped the Indian Society for Historical Research’s merit list.

It is unbelievable for me that my son is or can be anti-national. Even if he has with some others defended something [idea or their position on an issue], I don’t believe he can be labelled as anti-national.

My apologies for asking, but is Anirban the only child or he does he have siblings?
He is my younger son. I have two sons.

It must have been quite a task for you to handle other members of the family, particularly Anirban’s mother.
Definitely, in fact, his mother fell sick by the time we reached Delhi.

Did Anirban’s mother come along with you to Delhi?
Yes, I couldn’t have left her alone. Where could I have left her? She was extremely shocked on the night we heard the TV news. And then when we came to Delhi, with all this talk about lookout notice, she fell sick. It is a crisis for the entire family.

And now we are waiting for his…I don’t what is going to happen in court and all that.

When did you get to meet Anirban in Delhi?
I met him in police custody.

What was the meeting like?
I must say the police officers, particularly the DCP South, behaved very nicely with me. At that time, I just asked Anirban how he was, whether he was being treated well, about his health, and whether he required fresh clothes. It was not possible to talk to him in detail because the time given was very short and their [Anirban and Umar Khalid’s] interrogation was underway.

Later, I met him in Tihar Jail.

What was the meeting like in Tihar?
Anirban told me, "Daddy, don’t worry. I didn't do anything wrong. You know me, and you know to what extent I can be wrong and to what extent I can be right. Don’t lose your nerve. Keep well.” He also asked me to look after his mother. He hoped everything would end up okay. I said we too hoped that everything would become okay. It was naturally a very moving moment for me.

How is Anirban’s mother doing now?
She is better than earlier. All of us are waiting to see what is going to happen. I don’t have previous experience to handle these things. For the first time, I had to visit a police station or Tihar Jail or the court. I am 68-plus and I have never handled such things before. I had never thought something of this kind would happen.

What about such aspects as hiring lawyers? Are you or others handling it?
His teachers and friends are looking after all these aspects. I am grateful to them, I am indebted to them.

What is your view on this ongoing debate of what is national and what is anti-national?
I don’t want to get into these debatable issues. I would prefer to keep away from all this, because I don’t have much of an idea about politics. I am basically an emotional father. I only want to say I have faith in my son and I know he won’t say or do anything which goes against the nation.

Ajaz Ashraf is a journalist in Delhi. His novel, The Hour Before Dawn, has as its backdrop the demolition of the Babri Masjid. It is available in bookstores.