Students say new Jamia Millia Islamia VC Mazhar Asif has ties to RSS, raising concerns : Valley Vision

Professor Asif’s appointment has sparked criticism within the Jamia community. Concerns have emerged regarding his perceived affiliations with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

While a student at JNU, Professor Asif was a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), affiliated to the RSS.

Several alumni and students have voiced reservations, questioning his ability to uphold JMI’s values and maintain a progressive educational environment.

“Jamia Millia Islamia is internationally recognised for its stand against the CAA during the protests,” a former Jamia student told Maktoob.

“Conversely, Prof. Asif has been associated with pro-CAA activities and events that some view as anti-student. His appointment can be seen as part of a broader agenda to align Jamia with BJP policies.”

Critics argue that Professor Asif’s alignment with BJP-led government’s policies, such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), could steer Jamia away from its tradition of inclusivity and social justice.

Concerns have been also raised about Prof. Asif’s links with the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, an RSS-affiliated organisation focused on connecting with the Muslim community. He had participated in several events organised by BJP and RSS networks, which critics argue may compromise Jamia’s academic freedom.

“Student life at Jamia could become more challenging with the appointment of an RSS-affiliated Vice-Chancellor who has openly supported the CAA-NRC,” Lubaib Basheer, a doctoral student at Jamia Millia and the national general secretary of the Fraternity Movement, told Maktoob.

“We appeal to the student community not to fear but to continue to dissent, just as we stood firm against past Vice-Chancellors sympathetic to the Sangh Parivar,” he added.

Activist and social worker Asif Mujtaba also criticised Mazhar Asif’s appointment. “Jamia Millia Islamia became a focal point for protests against the CAA, and it is concerning that the new Vice-Chancellor supported this act. His previous involvement with RSS activities while at JNU raises questions about how he will conduct himself at JMI in the future. The way campuses like JMI and AMU are fast becoming breeding grounds for a Hindutva agenda needs a larger debate,” Mujtaba told Maktoob.

Founded in 1920, Jamia Millia Islamia has a significant legacy in India’s socio political landscape, initially established in Aligarh before relocating to New Delhi in 1935. It achieved deemed university status in 1962 and became a central university through an act of Parliament in 1988.

The university’s active role in social justice movements, particularly during the anti-CAA protests, has positioned it as a stronghold of progressive education. However, Prof. Asif’s appointment raises questions about how the institution’s mission might evolve under his leadership.

Prof. Asif is a scholar in Sufism and medieval Indian history. He has served on the executive councils of JNU and the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad National Urdu University, and held influential roles at the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language and the National Institute of Open Schooling.

He has presented over 20 research papers internationally and authored nine books in Persian, English, and Assamese. He was also part of the drafting committee for the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, a policy that has sparked debate over its impact on India’s education landscape.

At JNU, Professor Asif’s stint has been marked by controversy.

In 2017, Professor Asif’s appointment at JNU’s Centre of Persian and Central Asian Studies was challenged by the JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) in the Delhi High Court.

In 2018, he was appointed as the acting dean of JNU’s School of Arts and Aesthetics. He was later removed through a court order after a section of teachers moved the Delhi High Court citing violations of rules.

Professor Asif was a member of the JNU Teachers’ Federation (JNUTF), which was formed in 2019 as a parallel group against JNUTA.

Three years before, in January 2020, the JNU Students’ Union accused several faculty members, including Professor Asif, of inciting violence during a clash on campus that month that left over 30 students injured.