Indian Commies And Leftists Abroad

[Bharatvarsh2]

Gaddafis' `blood money' dents image of Indian-origin academics

Shyam Bhatia In London



The image of UK-based NRIs has been dented following the revelation that two

prominent Indian names are closely linked to the London School of Economics'

(LSE) shamed association with the Gaddafi family.



Few in India will have heard the name of Sharmishta (Shami) Chakrabarti, a

London-born lawyer, and head of a human rights organisation called Liberty, who

became a virtual household name during the halcyon days of the Labour

government.



In her attempts to highlight human rights abuses throughout the world,

Chakrabarti became a regular participant in some of the UK's best-known radio

and television shows. So much so that in one radio poll she was included on the

shortlist of 10 persons who may run Britain. One year later she was voted second

in the `Most Inspiring Political Figure' award run by Channel 4 television.



Problems for her arose earlier this year after she did not appear to implement

her principles of upholding human rights when it came to her alma mater, LSE,

where she is both a member of the council and the court of governors.



In both roles she was part of the decision to accept a large donation from

Colonel Gaddafi, some student activists describe it as `blood money', to train

400 of what one newspaper describes as his "stooges" to "administer his vicious

totalitarian regime."



Chakrabarti said and did nothing about the rights and wrongs of accepting the

donation, said to be upwards of £2 million, although Amnesty and other human

rights groups have had no qualms about reporting how ordinary Libyans under

Gaddafi have never had an opportunity to vote, far less enjoy freedom of speech,

conscience or assembly.



When the scandal first broke, Chakrabarti was quoted as saying she had

`bucketfuls' of embarrassment and regret about what had happened. Speaking about

the reaction of the LSE ruling council, she added, "The council has been

completely united in its regret. As a human rights campaigner, I can only share

bucketfuls of both."



Such belated expressions of regret are, however, not enough for Chakrabarti's

critics who say she should at the very least resign from both the LSE council

and her job as Director of Liberty. This will not affect her many other jobs,

including Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University and a visiting fellowship at

Nuffield College, Oxford. One of her colleagues, Sir Howard Davies, has already

resigned as Director of the LSE council.



The other NRI embarrassed by LSE's Gaddafi links is Lord Meghnad Desai, born in

Vadodara, Gujarat, who is not a member of the LSE council, but one of the two

examiners of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi's Ph.D thesis that is said to be both ghost

written and widely plagiarised.



Desai has defended his role as examiner, saying, "I read the thesis and when I

examined him along with another examiner, he defended his thesis very, very

thoroughly. I don't think there's any reason to think he didn't do it himself."



Another UK-based economist, who also interacted with Gaddafi junior, has a

different perspective on his intellectual capabilities. John Christensen says in

his online blog, "Saif was not, how to say this politely, the brightest of

students. Not only was he totally uninterested in economics, he lacked the

intellectual depth to study at that level, and showed no willingness to read let

alone do course work…without making it explicit, Mr Gaddafi was expecting me to

write his essays…I was not prepared to do this."



This is the same Saif al-Islam Gaddafi who subsequently pledged a £1.5-million

donation to the LSE. A £300,000 advance sum has since been received, but the

university is now in a quandary about whether to keep what has been received,

donate it to a charity or send it all back.



Asked about Saif al-Islam's donation, Desai said last week end, "I don't believe

there was any quid pro quo, you get a Ph.D you give us one and a half million

pounds, because giving the Ph.D is not in LSE's hands. It's a University of

London Ph.D."



Asked about the rest of the Libyan money, he commented, "It obviously looks like

we were wrong. In hindsight it has become blood money. LSE has to clean up its

image and money should be going back. Any association with Libya that looks like

financial gain has to be returned."



Criticism of Chakrabarti and Desai comes less than six months after another

prominent NRI, Swraj Paul, was suspended from the House of Lords for claiming

thousands of pounds in expenses to which he was not entitled. Paul apologised

and subsequently repaid £42,000.



Fortunately, not everything is gloomy where NRIs and the LSE are concerned.

Another less well known Indian has emerged with considerable credit for his role

in demanding that LSE returns the Gaddafi money forthwith.



Ashok Kumar, education officer of the Students Union at the LSE , courageously

said last week, "We do not know for sure how much money the university was paid

but our position is that this is money stolen from the Libyan people."



http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110309/main5.htm