Performance by Farooqui at IIT-B cancelled

A performance titled “Dastan-e-Karn — AZ Mahabharat” by Mahmood Farooqui, who specialises in Dastangoi, scheduled on Saturday evening at IIT-Bombay was cancelled after a section of students opposed the event and urged the administration to cancel it.

Farooqui, known for his Dastangoi performances, was invited to perform at IIT-Bombay as a part of Izhar 2024, a three-day event organised by Vaani, the Indian Languages Club at IIT-Bombay from October 25-27.

Just a few hours before the event, an informal group from the campus ‘IIT B for Bharat’, which has students, staff and alumni from the institute, issued a public statement opposing Farooqui’s performance.

The statement, which was posted on social media,  questioned the institute’s association with Farooqui, who was convicted of rape in 2016 by a lower court but was acquitted in 2017 by the Delhi High Court, which was later upheld by the Supreme Court.