Proffesor drags President, Prime Minister to Draupadi's defence

CHANDIGARH: `Question Even Those Who Paid Tribute To Mahasweta Devi'
If it is wrong to discuss well-known author Mahasweta Devi's works by correlating them to current circumstances, then the President and Prime Minister of India too have done something wrong. After all, they had expressed grief at her death recently.
This is the defence of an assistant professor of Central University Haryana at Mahendergarh who was asked to give an explanation by the registrar after she coordinated the staging of one of Devi's plays, `Draupadi', and had referred to atrocities aga inst women by the Army in her epilogue.The play was staged on September 21by the university's department of English and foreign languages. It also had a scene portraying army men committing rape. This had led to widespread protest by ex-servicemen and villagers against the university for projecting soldiers in poor light.
In her reply to the authorities, coordinator Snehasta made out a strong case for freedom of expression. In her four-page reply, Sne hasta wrote: “If it is wrong and questionable to discuss Mahasweta Devi's ideas by correlating them with real issues and circumstances for which she has been an active fighter throughout her life, let our Honourable President and Prime Minister be first questioned and interrogated.“
She referred to the condolence messages and tweets of the President, Prime Minister, Union ministers and others after Devi's death on July 28. Enacting `Draupadi' was also a tribute to the writeractivist, she insisted and termed the university's action as `unethical censorship' which may create fear in the mind and psyche of teachers and the students. In her explanation, Snehasta has justified the remarks of rape charges against armed forces by giving details of some rapes involving army and police in certain states.
The teacher has told the university that in a censored atmosphere it would be impossible to do unbiased research. According to her, this incident is purely an encroachment on academics which has enough power to demoralize and threaten free thinking.
“Hooligans have targeted a purely academic programme organized in the university. Tomorrow, the same kind of censorship may enter the classroom.These are platforms where we can discuss, debate on every kind of issue and if we academicians will not talk about the marginalized issues, who else would do it?“ she has asked.
She added that Devi was not the kind of writer who wrote literature for pleasure. She was an activistwriter whose works have a particular context. Like wise, `Drau padi' is not written in the air without any context or relevance.
Talking to TOI, Snehasta said those protesting against the show should come forward to understand, discuss the issue. “Whatever was performed was with the consent of the higher authorities of the university, which even praised me for the show,“ she said.
“A four-member committee set up to look into the issue will meet on Wednesday and her reply will be placed before it,“ said the university's registrar Ram Dutt.“The committee will decide future action.“