India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI: Three seminars at Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Centre for West Asian Studies, featuring the Iranian, Palestinian, and Lebanese Ambassadors to India, has been cancelled due to “unavoidable circumstances.” This has been reported by The Indian Express.
On Thursday, just hours before the Iranian Ambassador, Dr. Iraj Elahi, was set to speak at a seminar titled “How Iran Sees the Recent Developments in West Asia,” seminar coordinator Sima Baidya sent an email at 8:09 am notifying students of the cancellation. The email also mentioned the cancellation of the upcoming November 7 seminar on violence in Palestine, which was to feature Palestinian Ambassador Adnan Abu Al-Haija, and the November 14 seminar addressing the situation in Lebanon with Lebanese Ambassador Dr. Rabie Narsh.
Sources from the Iranian and Lebanese embassies stated that the decision to cancel was made by the university, and they were not informed of the specific reasons. The Palestinian Embassy did not respond to inquiries.
University sources indicated that the cancellations were prompted by concerns from senior faculty members at the School of International Studies (SIS), which oversees the Centre for West Asian Studies. They expressed worries about potential protests on campus stemming from discussions on these polarizing issues. “The aim of these seminars was to provide insights into the perspectives of West Asian countries amid the current geopolitical climate. However, there were valid concerns about the campus response,” a university source explained.
In a message to chairpersons of all SIS Centres on Thursday, SIS Dean Amitabh Mattoo reiterated the need for caution, stating: “We are living in a charged global atmosphere where sentiments can be easily inflamed. I request that you consult the Dean before inviting any diplomat for public events. It is also essential that any individual faculty initiatives in this regard are routed through you. We must ensure that every visitor, especially at the Ambassadorial level, receives proper protocol.”
When contacted for comment, Mattoo referred inquiries to Sameena Hameed, Chairperson of the Centre for West Asian Studies. Hameed clarified that the seminar with the Iranian Ambassador had been postponed a day prior due to last-minute organization, which did not allow for the necessary protocols. She noted that the seminars for the Palestinian and Lebanese Ambassadors were never officially scheduled by the Centre.
“These Ambassadors have been coming to our university for a long time and will continue to engage with students in the future,” Hameed added, emphasizing the importance of maintaining open dialogue despite the recent cancellations.
