Tension prevailed briefly at Jadavpur University in Kolkata on Monday as members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the students’ wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), attempted to hold a live screening of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir consecration ceremony on campus. The incident resulted in a scuffle between ABVP members, university authorities, and security guards, leaving the Pro Vice-Chancellor Amitava Datta and a security guard injured.
According to sources, the university authorities had not granted permission to the ABVP to conduct the screening. In response, ABVP members assembled on the campus and began chanting ‘Jai Shree Ram’ slogans. As the authorities, led by Pro Vice-Chancellor Amitava Datta and security guards, tried to intervene, a scuffle erupted, resulting in injuries to Datta and the security guard. Both were taken to a local hospital for first aid.
Members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), in opposition to the ABVP’s actions, shouted counter-slogans, leading to a minor scuffle. The situation was eventually brought under control by the security guards. As a precautionary measure, the gates of the university were locked, and no one was allowed inside the campus as semester exams were underway.
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SFI members alleged that the ABVP activists had brought in outsiders to celebrate the consecration ceremony, disrupting the academic atmosphere on campus. Tamalina Ghosh, a third-year student and member of the Arts Faculty Students’ Union (AFSU), expressed her concerns, stating, “The ABVP members did not have permission to hold any such event. They forcefully entered the campus with outsiders to disrupt the academic atmosphere. We strongly protest against such hooliganism and do not want the peaceful atmosphere of the university to be destroyed.” In response, SFI students planned to hold a demonstration outside the JU campus later in the day.
The university authorities have not yet issued an official reaction to the incident. However, JU Registrar Snehamanju Basu stated that no major commotion had taken place. On the other hand, the ABVP claimed that some students belonging to their organization wanted to hold a live screening on campus but were receiving threats from a section of the students. Monoranjan Joardar, the ABVP’s Jadavpur unit leader, asserted, “They are the students of the university. They wanted to celebrate this historic moment, which is being celebrated across the country. They did not seek permission as it is a moment of national significance. However, they faced threats from a section of the students. When they attempted to hold their program, they were stopped by the authorities and SFI members. We believe that students should have the right to celebrate such moments.”
Joardar further mentioned that the situation has since normalized on the campus, and there is currently no tension.
In response to the incident, the All Bengal University Teachers’ Association (ABUTA) wrote a letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Education Minister Bratya Basu, and Governor C V Ananda Bose, expressing concerns over attempts to “hold religious activities on the campus, which violate the secular spirit and have no relation to education and public interest.”
It is important for universities to maintain a peaceful and inclusive atmosphere where students can focus on their academic pursuits. Any disruption or clashes on campus can hinder the overall educational experience. It is crucial for all parties involved to engage in constructive dialogue and find peaceful resolutions to any conflicts that arise.
