Updates (not in any particular order):
- MSU V-C seals Fine Arts dept: (May 11) Taking moral policing to a new level, Vice-Chancellor of the prestigious Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU), Manoj Soni, today ordered the fine arts department to be sealed after defiant students put up an exhibition of Indian erotica to protest the arrest of one of their fellow classmates on Wednesday. The fine arts department, known the world over as a cradle for art expression, has never seen interference from any quarters. This is the first time in its 55 years of existence that it finds the BJP and VHP moral police brigade telling it what to do. [Link]
- BJP parade: (May 11) “We are seeing people affiliated to certain political ideology, entering the campus and imposing their narrow viewpoint without knowing that the erotica/shringara/copulation as a part of the nava-rasas exist in traditional practices,” said the Fine Arts student exhibition note. Sculptures, copies of erotica art in the department, photographs of erotica art from Khajuraho and from Geet Govinda were put up by the students. [Link]
- Dean suspended: (May 11) In a late night development Shivaji Panikkar was suspended from all the positions with immediate effect for three months. The suspension will be in effect till an inquiry committee, which is yet to be formed does not complete its inquiry, said the notice which was pasted at his residence around 10 pm on Friday. He has been also directed not to enter the campus. [Link]
- Suspended MSU acting dean disappears: (May 12) Suspended in-charge dean of M S University's Faculty of Fine Arts Shivaji Panikkar went underground on Saturday to avoid facing the wrath of the moral brigade that stalled an art display by students at the faculty three days ago, claiming that some works were obscene and hurt religious sentiments. [Link]
- Saffronisation: (May 12) ''In the last few years, university has been taken over by the RSS. What you see today is ultimate saffronisation. Either you agree with us or else we bash you up. It is happening in appointments, promotions. The disgusting thing is the role of the Vice Chancellor who is meant to be a symbol of intellectual freedom,'' Prof Bandukwala, former faculty member. [Link]
