In November 1983, the Commonwealth Heads
of Government Meet ( CHOGM) was held in India. Early that year I formed
a Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (COSNUP) and had published the
first critical study “India’s Nuclear Estate”. The COSNUP took this
opportunity to appeal the Heads meeting at CHOGM to agree to declare a
Nuclear Free Commonwealth. Fifty- seven signatories to the memorandum
included Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer, Nani Palkhivala, Vijaylakshmi Pandit,
Soli Sorabjee, V.M. Tarakunde, Madhu Dandavate, Renana Jhabvala,
O.V.Vijayan, CGK Reddy, Harish Khare, Andre Beteille, B.G.Verghese,
Nayantara Sehgal and Suresh Kalmadi. Reacting to our anti-nuclear
efforts, establishment scientists led by Dr. Raja Ramanna advised Indira
Gandhi to stop the peace campaign lest it turns into a popular movement.
I was Chairman of Centre for Science Policy Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru
University and Raja Ramanna, was chairman of the Atomic Energy
Commission. A Review Committee was constituted to evaluate the work of
my Science Policy Centre and the Father of India’s A-Bomb was nominated
by Indira Gandhi to head the Review Committee.
I requested a meeting with Raja Ramanna but his curt reply was that “As
I have seen several of your articles especially the one that appeared in
the Manchester Guardian (London), it is clear that we have very
divergent views on development of atomic energy in this country. I also
feel that these articles have damaged the country’s reputation abroad.
In view of this, I feel that there is no point in having a discussion on
this matter.”
The Ramanna Committee summarily ordered closer of the Centre for Studies
in Science Policy at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). My petitions
were not acknowledged. My appeals were rejected without any hearing.
The Secretary-General of CPM, and other
Party members in Parliament did not acknowledge my representations. No
JNU colleague spoke in defence of my academic freedom. JNU Executive
Council, Academic Council, and JNU Teachers’ Association did not protest
I was rebuked that since I did not belong to the party " no one would
defend you". One senior JNU professor offered the best advise “ to pack
and leave our university”. He was a senior member of CPM.
There was, however, one exception. The then leader of the opposition in
Parliament, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He wrote to the Chancellor of JNU, Dr.
D.S. Kothari that "dissent and debate, on public policies in particular,
is an essential element of the democractic way of life. As a member of
the Lok Sabha from Delhi, and as a member of the Court of the JNU, I
feel particularly concerned about the case of Dr. Dhirendra Sharma… It
appears from the circumstances of the case that Dr. Sharma has been
victimised because of his views - his critical examination of India's
nuclear programme. If so, I am sure you will agree that this is a
serious matter" and Vajpayee "urged reconsideration" of the case.
During 1983 –1993, the Centre for Science Policy Studies at JNU remained
closed. I retired from JNU in 1993. The Centre was reopened in 1994.
