The clash at Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata — India's second premier film school after FTII Pune has escalated from campus scuffle to legal battle, mirroring FTII's 2015 and JNU's pattern of campus conflicts.
Roots: On September 27, Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), an RSS-affiliated consumer rights body, held an event in SRFTI's main auditorium. Students protested, alleging outside entry. Clash broke out, students injured. On October 4, another attack, allegedly by Bongiya Hindu Jagran Manch supporters shouting slogans at gate, stone-pelting, injured more.
Students demanded Vice-Chancellor Santosh Ajmera, who took charge just 15 days earlier on Sept 27, ensure safety and accountability. They staged sit-in outside VC office. Administration responded with show-cause notices, then on Oct 15 rusticated six students: Shubham Waydande, student union vice-president, for three semesters; five others — Nachiket Pawar, Aaron P Joy, Abhilash Nair, Dhivahar Muthuveeran, Appu Soman — all Animation, for two semesters each.
Same day, FIR lodged against Waydande under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 126(2) wrongful restraint, 115(2) voluntarily causing hurt, 121(1), 221 obstruction, 351(2) criminal intimidation, 352, 324(4) mischief, for allegedly assaulting VC and vandalising office, shattering window panes. Panchasayar Police issued notice: “There are reasonable grounds to question you.”
Waydande says: "I have come to learn filmmaking, but raising questions is my right. We were only demanding safety." He says VC surrounded by security, someone threw stone, not him.
Lawyer Jhuma Sen told Calcutta High Court process flawed: no specific charges, no hearing, violation of natural justice. Expulsion order says "after meeting of Joint Dean and Dean Council" — no details.
Admin also suspended all academic activities till Nov 13, extended Puja holidays, shut hostel mess, ordered vacate campus, cut power to classrooms, deployed police and security to photograph female students, students allege, with rape threats appearing on social media — complaint sent to Cyber Cell.
Faculty voiced concern over police presence and hostel closure, fearing chilling effect. Alumni of FTII, SRFTI called nationwide protest Oct 27 against “saffronisation.”
SRFTI Registrar Deepak Kumar defended: rustications for "specific acts of misconduct, vandalism, defacement and physical assault," not protest; police for safety.
For Indian public universities, SRFTI impasse — 34 days no classes — raises familiar questions: should external ideological groups hold events in autonomous film schools? Where is line between guest lecture and political capture? And does rustication without hearing pass legal muster? Calcutta HC will decide.
*Tags:* #SRFTI #Kolkata #StudentProtest #Rustication #ShubhamWaydande #RSS #ABGP #CampusDemocracy #Saffronisation #FilmSchool