‘Taking part is voluntary’: Scottish Church principal denies allegations over Modi play

A play intended to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public service has triggered a controversy at Kolkata’s Scottish Church College, with several students alleging that they were pressured and threatened with consequences after refusing to participate in the production. 

The students, several of whom are associated with the college’s drama club, have objected to staging ‘NaMo Seva Gatha’, a play that praises Modi and includes politically charged elements, including a call for the audience to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

The script also contains a dialogue claiming that diaper sales in Pakistan increased during the surgical strikes carried out by Indian armed forces.

The play is scheduled to be staged at the college auditorium on September 29 as part of a series of programmes being organised during the month of Modi’s birthday.

The students’ refusal, however, allegedly led to a confrontation with college representatives involved in coordinating the performance.

According to the mother of one of the students, the pressure began earlier in the week and intensified during an online meeting on Thursday night.

She alleged that students who declined to participate were repeatedly warned about the possible consequences of their decision.

The students were allegedly told that their internal examination marks and project assessments could be affected if they continued to refuse, the mother claimed.

‘The coercion has left my son, and others traumatised,’ she said, questioning why students should face intimidation simply because they did not want to participate in a performance praising the Prime Minister.

The controversy has also raised questions about the role of students in staging a production carrying an overt political message. Some students, according to the mother, suggested that the college could instead approach those who support the ABVP, the student wing of the RSS, to participate in the play.

The students’ objection, she said, was not merely about performing but about being expected to participate in what they viewed as a politically loaded production.

Students say college changed its stand after social media post

The college’s position, according to one student who spoke to the newspaper, appeared to change on Friday, a day after a friend of the student’s mother posted about the alleged pressure on social media.

The student said the college began describing participation as voluntary on Friday, whereas students had allegedly faced pressure to agree until Thursday.

The social media post also claimed that one member of the group, whose health condition was aggravated by tension, became seriously unwell and required hospitalisation.

The allegations have drawn criticism from academic circles as well. Achin Chakraborty, a former professor at the Institute of Development Studies, described the reported pressure on students as ‘very alarming’.

He questioned why students would be required to participate in a production that was not connected to their academic curriculum, particularly if they had already expressed their objection.

Principal denies coercion, says college is following government directions

Scottish Church College principal Madhumanjari Mandal has denied the allegations that students were coerced into participating.

Mandal said members of the drama club had initially been approached about a week earlier and were contacted again after several did not respond. Once the students communicated that they did not wish to participate, she said, their decision was accepted.

‘We accept their decision. Since they are not acting, we will take part in the play,’ the principal said.

At the same time, Mandal said the college was required to follow directions issued by the state higher education department, as were other colleges.

She maintained that participation in the play is voluntary.

The college website currently lists a series of events being held between September 17 and October 6. September 17, the day Modi turned 76, saw an event titled ‘Ashirwad Ka Diya’, during which lamps were lit to mark the Prime Minister’s public service.

The script of the play has reportedly been circulated among schools and colleges, with institutions expected to submit videos of their performances to the government.

The dispute at Scottish Church College comes amid a broader campaign of programmes around Modi’s birthday and his years in public life.

The controversy has now placed the spotlight on the line between institutional participation in government-directed programmes and students’ individual choice over whether they wish to perform in a politically themed production.