On June 4, 2024, the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay’s (IIT-Bombay) administration informed eight students that they were being fined for putting on a controversial play, Raahovan.

On March 31, a group of students performed Raahovan during the university’s annual Performing Arts Festival. The group’s play was intended to be a feminist interpretation of the Ramayana, a Sanskrit epic that is a foundational Hindu text. The students reportedly deviated from the script they had submitted to the university prior to the performance.

After videos of the performance were shared on social media, the organizers of the play received significant backlash. A different group of students submitted a formal complaint to the university alleging that it had mocked Hindu beliefs and deities.

On May 8, the university’s disciplinary action committee (DAC) met to decide on punishments for the students involved in creating the play.

Nearly a month later, on June 4, the university notified eight students that they were being fined and suspended from campus housing. The students petitioned IIT’s dean of students affairs to allow them to continue living in their hostels, but their request was denied. The university would not comment on the reasons behind the penalties.

The penalties prompted objections from some students. On August 17, it was reported that the university reduced the penalties to a lower fine and a housing suspension of six months, instead of a permanent suspension.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about a higher education institution taking disciplinary action against students in 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://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/iitb-imposes-stiff-fine-on-eight-students-who-staged-play-on-ramayana-101718825345698.html
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/iitb-reduces-penalty-for-students-over-derogatory-play-101723835743283.html
https://educationpost.in/news/education/iit-bombay-fines-students-over-controversial-play-at-performing-arts-festival
https://www.thejaipurdialogues.com/featured/iit-bombay-students-face-fines-for-staging-the-anti-hindu-play-raahovan/