Staging Mahasweta Devi Play Leads to Unrest at Haryana University

The agitators burnt effigies of the university vice-chancellor, demanding action against those involved in the play.

The play ‘Draupadi’ (right) and the ensuing protests at Central University of Haryana at Mahendragarh, Haryana (left). (Photo altered by The Quint)

A play performed by the students at Central University of Haryana in Mahendragarh, Haryana, which had a scene portraying armymen committing rape, invited protests from the BJP’s student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), ex-servicemen and local villagers. The protestors burnt effigies of the university vice-chancellor, demanding action against those involved in the play.

According to the English Literature department, the students performed the play ‘Draupadi’ written by writer Mahasweta Devi, who passed away in July this year, as a tribute to her. The play, set in 1970s in tribal areas, depicts army men questioning a woman to reveal the names of those involved in a tribal movement. When she denies, the army men rape her to press for the information.

The protestors accused the organisers of carrying out an act of sedition and tarnishing the image of the army personnel. A complaint was also registered with the police against them. The university administration has formed a six-member committee, which is expected to submit its report soon.

Video Editor: Sandeep Suman

(With inputs from Vishal Thakur in Chandigarh)