Shobha Yatra, Gaushala at IIT-Bombay to mark Ram Mandir celebrations; What to say about rules, ask students

A ‘Shobha Yatra’, a concert called ‘Ramdhun’ and the inauguration of a ‘Gaushala’ – a series of programs have been given permission by the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay to be organized on, before and on the campus. Consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya on 22 January.

The move has been criticized by a section of students as “politically aligned”, following the institute’s own guidelines that allow students and faculty to organize only “apolitical” events.

In an email sent by the institute administration to all students and residents of the campus on January 17, a musical program titled ‘Ramdhun’ based on ‘Geet Ramayana’ (a collection of songs) was announced on January 20 in the IDC auditorium of the campus. .

“It is our pleasure to share with you the announcement of a program based on the famous ‘Geet Ramayana’ on the coming Saturday, January 20 at 4:30 pm at IDC Auditorium…The program ‘Ramdhun’ will present select performances on ‘Geet Ramayana’ ‘ along with some ‘Ram Bhajan’. The artistes are from the IIT-B community, including spouses and children of staff and faculty members as well as some students. Look forward to seeing many of you at the event. Hopefully,” read the email sent by the public relations office of the institute.

However, when News18 contacted the institute’s spokesperson on the incident, they officially denied organizing any event.

Another email approved by the administration addressed to campus residents on January 19 said that IIT-Bombay Director Subhasis Chaudhary would inaugurate an event. cow shed On 22 January. “Inauguration ceremony of the new cow shed It is scheduled on January 22, 2024 (Monday)… Ashwini Bhide AMC (BMC) and Professor Subhasis Chaudhary, Director, IIT-B will inaugurate it…”

A huge banner put up on the campus also said that a procession called ‘Shri Ram Darbar Shobha Yatra’ would be taken out on January 21.

A group of students condemned the administration’s move to allow the organization of such events, saying it is completely contrary to the guidelines issued by the institute on November 14, 2023, which clearly prohibit students as well as faculty from Prohibits from organizing any program. Political” in nature.

“The institute recently announced that it will ‘remain apolitical in all its endeavors’ and is using the new guidelines to cancel and censor many academic talks and gatherings on campus. It is shocking that the institution allowed such politically charged events to be organized while inviting all campus residents. The institute has succumbed to political forces while on the other hand it continues to suppress any activity of independent student groups,” said a student representative of the collective.

The guidelines for organizing events on campus state that these can be classified into two categories – “purely non-political” and “potentially political”. It states that the latter may lead to socio-political controversies. This can happen and should be avoided.