Professor V.K. Tripathi Harassed Again While Distributing Pamphlets in Solidarity with Gaza
The retired IIT professor, known for his peace activism, faced intimidation while spreading messages of non-violence and unity.
New Delhi: Professor V.K. Tripathi, a retired physics professor from IIT Delhi and a well-known social activist, was once again subjected to harassment while distributing pamphlets promoting non-violence and solidarity with Gaza. The incident, captured on video by his daughter and widely shared on social media, shows the 76-year-old being confronted and mocked by a group of individuals while handing out leaflets calling for compassion and peace.
In the video, the mob can be heard challenging Professor Tripathi’s concern for Palestinians. When one person said, “You are worrying about Gaza’s condition, look at your own,” the professor calmly replied, “They are our own.” Another man in the group reportedly remarked, “We don’t want to live together with these people,” referring to Palestinians and Pakistanis.
His daughter, Rakhi Tripathi, shared the clip on platform X (formerly Twitter), expressing her frustration: “See how these hateful people cornered my father. All he said was that Gaza needs compassion, yet they mocked him. Papa faces this almost daily, yet he remains dedicated to humanity. Boils my blood.”
This is not the first time Professor Tripathi has been targeted. On September 27, police in Dharavi, Maharashtra, stopped him while he was peacefully distributing pamphlets calling for an end to violence in Gaza. A group of 22 police officers reportedly confiscated his material and took him to the local police station, citing the need for prior permission.
Despite repeated intimidation, Professor Tripathi has continued his mission of promoting communal harmony and opposing violence. Over the years, he has held peace fasts at Rajghat, engaged with people on the streets in multiple cities, and consistently spoken out against both domestic and international injustices. He strongly believes that silence in the face of violence amounts to complicity.
Reflecting on his activism, Professor Tripathi recently told Maktoob’s Nikita Jain that his journey began in 1982, when he was in the United States during Israel’s invasion of Lebanon. “More than 30,000 Palestinians were killed, yet the world supported Israel. I felt disgusted and decided to speak out,” he said.
After returning to India and joining IIT Delhi, he continued his advocacy work. “The masses may not have weapons, but they have inner strength the power of non-violence. That is what I have always tried to promote.”
Speaking about the October 7 Hamas attack, Tripathi noted that he initially believed it was an act of retaliation that would subside. “But the response from Israel was shocking it was civilians who were targeted, not militants. Gaza has no real government support. The people have been rendered stateless,” he said.
Professor Tripathi remains committed to his belief that spreading awareness through dialogue and peaceful resistance is the only way to combat hate and injustice even in the face of hostility.
