On Friday (February 1), an outrageous incident took place at the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) when a play was performed at the varsity mocking Lord Ram and Goddess Sita. The play titled ‘Jab We Met’ was staged as a part of a competition at Lalit Kala Kendra.
पुणे विद्यापीठ आयोजित रामलीला नाटकातून समस्त हिंदूंच्या भावना दुखावल्या आहेत. 🤬
— Right-Wing (@RWForum2010) February 2, 2024
गृहमंत्र्यांनी या वर त्वरित कायदेशीर कारवाई करावी…@shivanigokhale @BhumikaK22 @NiteshNRane @drankushmh @BalasahebL6595 @mangeshspa @Core_punekar @vidyahindu2811 @hindu_aman @SLambute30 @t_hemant pic.twitter.com/oWFRlWze22
The Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists took strong objection to the depiction of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita in a poor light in the said act. ABVP activists stopped the play and a heated argument ensued. Two students have reportedly suffered injuries in the altercation on Friday, February 2.
In a play staged at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Mata Sita is being shown smoking a cigarette and Prabhu Shri Ram ji is assisting her in lighting it.
— Randomsena (@randomsena) February 3, 2024
Requesting @CPPuneCity @DGPMaharashtra @PuneCityPolice to register a case under 295A and take strict action against… pic.twitter.com/QRjOnD4i9R
The ABVP members, while raising objection to the mockery of Ramayana and Bhagwan Ram and Mata Sita, emphasised that Ramayana is not mythology but history.
#ABVP Protests Offensive Language Targeting Hindu Gods in #Pune University Drama pic.twitter.com/AwGOPBn0uS
— Punekar News (@punekarnews) February 2, 2024
In the outrageous video, the student playing Mata Sita was shown smoking a cigarette. The theme of the play is reported to be the rehearsal journey of actors involved in Ramlila.
Taking to X, ABVP Pune shared a video of the offensive play and wrote, “Prabhu Shriram and Sita Mata were portrayed as clowns in the dramas presented by the department of Fine Arts Center of Savitribai Phule Pune University.”
सावित्रीबाई फुले पुणे विद्यापीठामधील ललित कला केंद्र या विभागाकडून सादर केलेल्या नाटकांमध्ये प्रभू श्रीराम व सीता माता यांची भूमिका विदूषक प्रमाणे दाखवण्यात आली. त्याच बरोबर प्रभू श्रीराम यांना राखी सावंत व देवी देवतांच्या पात्राच्या मुखातून शिव्या व आक्षेपार्ह भाषा वापरण्यात आली pic.twitter.com/gPxE7QdXN5
— ABVP Pune (@ABVPPune) February 2, 2024
“The activists of ABVP Pune Mahanagar stopped this offensive play. ABVP Pune has taken a stand that such language about Hindu deities will not be tolerated and action should be taken against the culprits concerned,” the student organisation added.
अभाविप पुणे महानगरच्या कार्यकर्त्यांनी हे आक्षेपार्ह नाटक बंद केले. हिंदू देवी देवता बद्दल अशा प्रकारची भाषा मुळीच खपवून घेतली जाणार नाही व संबंधित दोषी विरूध्द कारवाई करण्यात यावी अशी भूमिका अभाविप पुणे तर्फे घेण्यात आली आहे.
— ABVP Pune (@ABVPPune) February 2, 2024
Speaking about the matter, Suresh Bhosale from the SPPU security department said, “We were not given any prior intimation about the program and came to know about it after the incident.”
Meanwhile, both the parties involved in the matter have filed cross-complaints at the Chatuhshrungi police station. The police have been recording the statements of both the groups involved in the matter. The police said that after a verification an FIR might lodged against the organisers of the play hurting Hindu religious sentiments.
