Kamala Nehru College team claims they were disqualified for using 'obscene' words during a Sahitya Kala Parishad contest, govt body says decision yet to be taken
A theatre performance by the Kamala Nehru College came under a cloud recently after the participants used words such as bra and panty. The group was participating in a competition organised by Delhi government's cultural wing, Sahitya Kala Parishad.
The college has alleged that they were disqualified from the event for using "obscene" words. The organisers, however, said no such decision has been taken as of now.
Lakshya, the theatre society of Kamala Nehru College, Delhi University, alleged that their annual production — 'Shahira ke naam'— was disqualified by organisers during the ongoing theatre competition, Mahavidyalaya Natya Samaroh, organised at the Sri Ram Centre on January 27.
The organisers, however, said no such decision has been taken and a committee was still looking into the matter. "There was no disqualification. We don't know why the college is spreading this rumour," said Sindhu Mishra, Deputy Secretary, Sahitya Kala Parishad.
"We have an internal committee to look into the cases of usage of obscene language in a performance. Any decision would be taken after the competition is over on Tuesday," she added.
According to Lakshya members, the play was based on six college girls trying to create their own play. They then go on to describe how hostel girls play pranks on each other and how their undergarments get mixed up.
The theatre society claimed that after the performance, an announcement was made that their team was disqualified from the competition. "Initially, we thought they took offence at some cuss words we used during the play but later a judge told us that it was because we mentioned bra and panty," a theatre society member said, requesting anonymity.
"We were told that it is alright to use such words in a women's college but not in front of a large audience," she added.
"Isne meri bra utha ke unki balcony mein phenk di and uspe shayari bhi likh di (She threw my bra in the neighbour's balcony and then wrote poetry on it) was the 'objectionable' line the organisers took offence to," said Monami Basu, Convener of the society.
"It's highly condemnable that women don't have a right to crack jokes on their undergarments, and if they do, they're disqualified from a competition, but men can say anything degrading about a woman. It is even more surprising that these diktats come from theatre enthusiasts of one of the most renowned theatre platforms in Delhi," she added.
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