On April 2, 2024, it was reported that police had registered a case against several Pondicherry University students for putting on a controversial play, Somayanam. The university also removed the head of the arts department from his position, pending the findings of an internal investigation, into the performance
On March 29, 2024, the university’s Department of Performing arts performed Somayanam during the annual cultural festival. The group’s play was a feminist interpretation of the Ramayana, a Sanskrit epic that is a foundational Hindu text. The university had reportedly approved the student’s script.
After videos of the performance were shared on social media, the organizers of the play received significant backlash. On March 30, before the play was to be performed a second time, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)–a student branch of the right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh party–staged a protest alleging that the play depicted characters of the Ramayana in an objectionable manner.
Shortly after the protest, Puducherry police initiated an investigation and charged several students, including the play’s screenwriter and director, with “outraging religious sentiments.” In addition, the university formed an Inquiry Committee to address the situation. On April 1, the university removed the head of the arts department pending the findings of the investigation.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about police bringing charges against students and about a university removing a faculty member from their position in apparent retaliation for the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression–conduct which is protected by international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which India is a party. University authorities have an obligation to refrain from restricting or retaliating against expressive activities so long as they are peaceful and responsible. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, penalties intended to restrict student expression undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.
Sources:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/puducherry/controversial-play-at-pondicherry-university-sparks-protests/articleshow/108967585.cms
https://www.indiaacademicfreedom.net/highereducation/police-book-pondicherry-university-students-for-staging-play-that-outraged-religious-feelings
https://www.deccanherald.com/india/puducherry/police-register-case-over-portrayal-of-hindu-gods-in-pondicherry-university-cultural-event-2961587
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/drama-controversy-pondicherry-university-asks-hod-of-performing-arts-to-step-down/article68018706.ece
https://www.opindia.com/2024/03/pondicherry-university-stages-play-insulting-hindu-deities-abvp-protests/
https://thecommunemag.com/police-register-case-after-abvp-protests-over-disrespectful-depiction-of-ma-sita-in-a-play-at-pondicherry-university/
https://x.com/ShobanaRaviNews/status/1774848055579435252
https://www.opindia.com/2024/04/pondicherry-university-hod-of-performing-arts-anti-hindu-play-internal-committee/