National

Fine arts students’ protest

AHMEDABAD: A fresh crisis has gripped the Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara with the students of its reputed fine arts faculty deciding to boycott classes for a week from Saturday.

They are protesting against the decision of the syndicate to take “disciplinary action” against the former acting dean of the faculty, Shivaji Panikkar, already under suspension.

The syndicate based its decision on the basis of the recommendations of a four-member “inquiry committee” appointed by Vice-Chancellor Manoj Soni. Professor Panikkar and five other teachers were held guilty of indiscipline and “instigating” students to go on strike in May when the trouble first erupted in the faculty over display of some paintings by a final year student.

The syndicate, apparently divided between the “pro-saffron” lobby supporting the Vice-Chancellor, who was alleged to have links the Sangh Parivar, and those opposed to him, decided to appoint two committees, one to recommend suitable disciplinary measure against Professor Panikkar, including termination from service, and the other committee to look into the charges against five other teachers in the same faculty.

A representative of the students, many of whom have come from outside Gujarat as well as outside the country, even went to the extent to saying that it was not worth studying in the once-reputed University.

The trouble started on May 9 when some Sangh Parivar activists led by a local BJP leader, Niraj Jain, raided the fine arts faculty and ransacked its exhibition hall where some paintings were in display. Their objections were particularly against some paintings by a final year student, Chandra Mohan from Hyderabad. The activists claimed the paintings were “obscene” and hurt the religious sentiments of the people.

Professor Panikkar, who was acting dean of the faculty, claimed that the paintings were for internal assessment for the final examination and not for public display. He lodged a strong protest with the Vice-Chancellor against vandalism and demanded police action against the BJP leader.

The Vice-Chancellor, however, instead of supporting the faculty members, allegedly sided with the saffron brigade and sealed the exhibition hall.

No steps were taken by the university to get Chandra Mohan, and one of his friends released from the police custody after they were arrested on complaints from Niraj Jain and instead Professor Panikkar was suspended.

The students went on a strike then and again when the university re-opened after the summer vacation on June 18 that continued for about 10 days.

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