3 min readNew DelhiFeb 1, 2024 07:19 AM IST
First published on: Jan 31, 2024 at 10:35 PM IST
A section of students at the Ashoka University have registered their protest against the university administration, alleging they were “forced to take down the posters” of the screening of a documentary ‘Ram ke Naam’, in light of the consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22.
In a letter written to Vice Chancellor Somak Raychaudhury and the faculty members Monday, The Democracy Collective, and the “student government” of the varsity, wrote: “A member of the collective was called alone to meet an administrative official… they were ambushed by multiple administrative officials… eventually, the collective was forced to take down the posters.”
Democracy Collective comprises students, faculty and staff members.
On Wednesday, several students staged a protest near the Mess Lawns against the alleged attempt to halt the screening where they were virtually joined by Anand Patwardhan, the director of the documentary.
Speaking to The Indian Express, a Masters’ student said, “A member of the collective was tracked down while he was going to get the printouts of the screening event posters from shops and told that we cannot put them up across the campus. On the other hand, students held religious celebrations in public spaces…”
The letter further read: “……while the admin members quoted policy violation to be the reason behind their attempt to stop the screening, a full-fledged aarti and bhajan (worship) was held… for the purpose of celebrating the inauguration…This is directly in violation of the Residence Life Policy that states, ‘festival events must not entail any religious content or rituals…”
Following backlash from several faculty members, Raychaudhury wrote back: “No official spaces were provided to either event and restrictions on poster placements were applied to both…both events were held peacefully…with no restrictions or interference by the administration.”
To Raychaudhury’s response, the collective reverted stating that “….the religious celebrations of the Ram Mandir and our screening of the critical historical film with academic content– were not equivalent in nature so as to warrant equivalent treatment; secondly, the film screening was, in fact, subject to restrictions that the celebrations were not…”
The Indian Express reached out to Raychaudhury and the dean of faculty for a response on the controversy but received no response.
Democracy Collective comprises students, faculty and staff members, and the “student government” of the varsity. (Express Photo) 
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