The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai has reportedly suspended Dalit student and PhD scholar Ramadas Prini Sivanadan for a period of two years, citing his involvement in protests against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, as claimed by the Progressive Students Forum in a statement released on Friday.According to the forums statement, Ramadas, who also holds a position as a student leader, had earlier received a show-cause notice from the institutions registrar on March 7. The notice raised objections to his activism, particularly highlighting his participation in the Parliament March in Delhi back in January and his social media post advocating for students to watch the documentary Ram Ke Naam, an act deemed by the institution as “anti-national”.Controversy Surrounding Ram Ke NaamThe documentary Ram Ke Naam, directed by filmmaker Anand Patwardhan and awarded the National Film Award in 1992, delves into the campaign by Hindutva groups for constructing a Ram temple at the site of the former Babri mosque in Ayodhya.The forum emphasized that the documentary has been screened officially at TISS in the past, is publicly accessible, and has even been broadcasted by state broadcaster Doordarshan. However, they allege that the current TISS administration seeks to stifle voices and discussions in the online space concerning topics students wish to engage with.Crackdown on Dissent AllegationsThe student body condemned the suspension, linking it to broader attempts to suppress dissent against the BJP government, particularly citing the Parliament March organised by student groups opposing the 2020 National Education Policy. They argue that by imposing a suspension and barring entry into the campus for two years, the TISS administration indirectly suppresses all opposition to the ruling partys policies.
