Bid to block Teesta Setalvad’s speech on harmony at IISc Bangalore
Bengaluru: A talk by civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) was facilitated by the institute's faculty on Wednesday, after reports of security personnel attempting to prevent her entry. The talk, organized by a students' group at IISc and titled "Communal Harmony and Justice," encountered obstacles hours before its scheduled 5pm start, as revealed by a faculty member.
Initially, security personnel stationed at the institute's gates refused entry to Teesta Setalvad. However, faculty members intervened, advocating for her entry. Despite the disallowed entry, Setalvad delivered her talk outside a campus canteen instead of the initially planned auditorium.
The event was attended by about 40 students and four faculty members, commencing around 5.45pm and extending until approximately 8pm, according to an anonymous faculty member. Discussions revolved around topics such as evolving riot patterns, the challenges harmony, scientific rationality pose to certain ideologies, and the utilization of social media for spreading hate, a faculty member who attended the event was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
One attendee, Parthanil Roy, a mathematician from another institution, emphasized the importance of free expression within academic institutions. Roy stated, "The discussions were engaging — our Constitution grants us the right to freedom of speech and expression. Academic institutions shouldn't be trying to stifle discussions."
The students' group, named "Break the Silence," had previously reached out to the IISc administration to seek permission for the talk. However, they received no response to their request. On the day of the event, a student was reportedly informed that the originally sought location for the talk could not be used.
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Thumbay Group begins work on Sharjah’s first private integrated psychiatric, rehabilitation hospital
Sharjah: Thumbay Group has laid the foundation stone for the Thumbay Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Hospital at Sharjah Healthcare City, a 120-bed facility that the company says will be the region’s first private, fully integrated hospital dedicated to psychiatric care, neuro-rehabilitation and addiction recovery.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri, who is also a member of the Sharjah Executive Council, in the presence of Dr. Thumbay Moideen.
Spread across 110,000 square feet, the hospital is being developed to address growing demand for specialised mental health and rehabilitation services in the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
The facility will include inpatient and outpatient services in psychiatry, neuro-rehabilitation, addiction treatment, child and adolescent mental health, and care for mood and anxiety disorders. It will also feature VIP inpatient villas designed to provide privacy and support long-term recovery.
A mosque, named the Thumbay Masjid, will be constructed within the campus and will be open to the public.
The hospital is being designed to meet standards for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an internationally recognised accreditation system for rehabilitation facilities.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri said the project reflects Sharjah’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure in all aspects of wellbeing.
“Mental health and rehabilitation have long needed dedicated infrastructure, and we are proud to support a private partner whose vision matches the ambition of this Emirate,” he said.
Dr. Thumbay Moideen said the project was a response to a growing need for specialised mental healthcare services in the region.
“We have spent over three decades building healthcare in this region, and the one conversation that has grown louder every year is mental health. Families have been carrying this quietly for too long. This hospital is our answer. It is purpose-built, not retrofitted, and it has been designed around dignity, recovery, and outcomes that families can trust,” he said.
Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2026, and the hospital is expected to become operational by mid-2027.
Once completed, the facility will become part of Thumbay Group’s network of healthcare, education and diagnostic institutions across the UAE.
