The report said some students had complained of being pressured by the college authorities to stage the play. They also reportedly told the newspaper that one student became so stressed that she had to be hospitalised.
A management spokesperson, however, said no student would be forced to participate. She said some of the college’s regular student theatre artistes had refused to take part, but maintained that there would be no difficulty in putting together the roughly 15 students required for the performance.
The regular theatre artistes were eventually persuaded to assist and train students who may not have acted before, the report said. A section of teachers and parents have also reportedly objected to what they described as a ‘cheap propaganda’ play.
College authorities have reportedly pleaded helplessness, saying the institution depends on government aid and assistance and that it was not possible to antagonise the authorities.
It is not clear who wrote the script, but it is known to have been shared by the West Bengal BJP, whose state president Shamik Bhattacharya is known for his literary interests.
It is also unclear whether the instructions included a mandatory invitation to a BJP leader. However, Anandabazar Patrika reported that a BJP legislator would attend the performance at Scottish Church College on Tuesday, 29 September.
The reported controversy has an added resonance at Scottish Church College, whose alumni include some of the most prominent names in Bengali theatre, including Badal Sircar, Manoj Mitra, Rudraprasad Sengupta and Keya Chakrabarty. Sengupta also taught at the college.
The episode therefore comes at a time when a production that has already drawn questions over its use of students, political messaging and the ‘jai Shri Ram’ chant is being taken into another educational setting — this time amid reported resistance from the very students expected to perform it.
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