New Delhi – Professor V.K. Tripathi, a 77-year-old retired physics professor from IIT Delhi, was allegedly harassed by Delhi Police officials while observing a day-long fast at Rajghat on Independence Day in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, reported the Free Press Journal.
Prof. Tripathi, known for his lifelong advocacy of non-violence, has been distributing pamphlets across Delhi to spread awareness about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “Violence is the weapon of authoritarian regimes, and non-violence is the weapon of the people,” he said firmly while explaining his motivation.
On August 15, as he and his daughter Rakhi Tripathi shared pamphlets and collected signatures for a solidarity petition, a group of police personnel confronted them. A video shared by his daughter showed uniformed officers arguing with the elderly professor, who had been fasting the entire day. “They came shouting with hatred, as if we were there to cause trouble,” she wrote on X, expressing her shock at the incident.
The professor recalled that his activism dates back to 1982, when Israel invaded Lebanon, killing thousands of Palestinians. Since then, he has consistently spoken against wars and oppression. Even during his tenure at IIT Delhi, he encouraged students to critically discuss the politics of war and global inequality.
Despite the confrontation with the police, Prof. Tripathi said he would continue his peaceful campaign. “Some ask me why I worry about Gaza and not about India. I ask them in return—are you human first or not?” he stated.
Rakhi Tripathi, also an academic, said that their initiative was aimed at reaching people who had little awareness of the Gaza conflict. She highlighted how social media support helped spread their message but also exposed them to online trolling.
This is not the first time Prof. Tripathi has been targeted for his activism. He has previously distributed pamphlets during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests and after the Babri Mosque demolition, always stressing the need for awareness and non-violent resistance.
Despite harassment, he remains resolute: “We need to counter propaganda, change mindsets, and call out injustice—whether in India or in Gaza.”
