NEW DELHI: The Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) has written to Sri Guru Tej Bahadur Khalsa College of Delhi University seeking immediate ban on a play produced by college’s drama society on the grounds that the theme was anti-Hindu in nature.
“The drama Ankur society has been staging is anti-Hindu and it conveys a wrong message. The group is presenting a fake drama on Hinduism,” the DUSU missive said.
DUSU president Mohit Nagar told Express, “There were some highly objectionable things in the play. The play was trying to create a rift between Hindus and Sikhs regarding the 1984 riots and hence we demand strict action. They were also targeting persons. He also urged the group to handover the script at the earliest.
Meanwhile, president of the drama society, Guneet Singh Nanda went public with the notice issued by the DUSU and wrote a blog titled Why DUSU Wants To Ban Our Dramatics Society For A “Fake Drama On Hinduism” stating that the ban was “regressive” and “undemocratic”.
He further explains in the blog that the play that they have been performing since February 8 ‘Welcome to the Machine’ investigates how religious forces assert their dominance over ‘others’ by means of culture, education and institutional structures.
“The notice that was issued is wrong and the allegations are untrue. The main reason behind this (notice) is that we have named people like Narendra Modi, Mohan Bhagwat, Rajiv Gandhi, Sadhvi Prachi regarding their roles in 1984 and 2002 riots in our play,” said Nanda, a third year Political Science student.
He and the 21-member group, unfazed by the notice, will take out a protest march and will soon be performing the 25-minute-long play in front of the varsity’s Arts Faculty North Campus. The group has been staging plays on human trafficking and political awareness for the last five years.
No to short pants, sleEve-less dress
Delhi Vivekenanda Institute of Professional Studies, a college affiliated to the IP university, has posted a circular, which the unhappy students have posted on social media platforms, “Short pants and short dresses are barred in the campus except for special functions. Wearing of sleeveless dresses is barred in the campus,” says the purported notice. “Public showing of affection, hugging or holding female or male students or any kind of unhealthy behaviour or exhibition of affection is strictly prohibited inside the campus,” the circular states.