Abstract

“Any academic must learn the culture and feelings of the people,” stated the student union president of Jamia Millia Islamia, India's pre-eminent Muslim university. The university's vice-chancellor unfortunately failed in this respect. He questioned the government ban on Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses, outraging Muslim students, who demanded his death. They also tried to carry out their sentence, which led to violent riots and the dosing of the university. The student union president explained why he thought the vice-chancellor must the; by suggesting The Satanic Verses should be available, the vice-chancellor had mocked Muslim customs and traditions.

David Gross wants these traditions saved and revitalized.