Students participating in a play on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public life at Kolkata’s Scottish Church College have rejected allegations that they were forced to take part or threatened with academic consequences.
The play, titled Namo Seva: Untold Stories, has been at the centre of a controversy after reports claimed that some students were pressured to participate and could face consequences in internal assessments or project evaluations if they refused.
Students involved in the production and the college principal have denied these allegations.
Students Say Participation Was Voluntary
Archisman Ghosh, a Semester 7 Botany student participating in the play, told News18 that no student was forced to take part.
“Neither the college authority nor any professor had ever forced any student for any such play,” Ghosh said.
He said students joined the production “out of their own free will” and that the play focuses on Modi’s 25 years in public life.
Another participant, Semester 7 Computer Science student Deepam Malakar, also rejected the allegations.
“Teachers gave students sufficient time, and participation was based on individual consent. Those who did not wish to participate were free to opt out,” Malakar said.
He added that he had received “nothing but polite and warm behaviour” from professors and others involved in the production.
“I have not witnessed or experienced any threats, pressure, or coercion,” Malakar told News18.
Principal Calls Allegations Baseless
College principal Dr Madhumanjari Mandal has also denied that students were compelled to participate.
“There has been no kind of force of any kind on any student. The entire story is baseless,” Mandal said.
She said she would report the matter to the college’s governing body, describing the allegations as damaging to the reputation of the institution.
The college’s Activity Cell also issued a statement condemning what it described as “selective reporting, dramatic exaggeration and gross misrepresentation” of the facts.
It said the reports were published without consulting students who were directly involved in the production.
College Denies Forced Political Slogans
Reports had also claimed that some students objected to slogans such as “Jai Shri Ram” being used in the play.
The Activity Cell denied that students were forced to chant political slogans.
“No student was forced to chant political slogans as part of the programme,” it said.
The college has said the programme is part of events marking Modi’s birthday and his years in public life, following directions from the state Higher Education Department.
The play is scheduled to be staged at the college auditorium on September 29.
