Play on Godse leads to row in Banaras Hindu University

A row erupted in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) over a controversial play on Nathuram Godse being staged on the campus as come students alleged it portrayed father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi in poor light, officials said today. A video of the play uploaded on the social media had the student community divided on whether it should be staged or not while some angry youngsters filed a complaint with the police over it, they added. Some of the students raised a strong objection about the performance of Marathi play- 'Me Nathuram Godse Boltoy' (I, Nathuram Godse speaking ) ,which was performed on Tuesday during a three-day cultural festival 'Sanskriti-2018' organised by the arts faculty on the varsity campus, an official said. Some of the students wrote to the varsity administration protesting the play. They also handed over a complaint at the Lanka police station, alleging that the drama made a mockery of the principle of truth and non-violence, the official said. They alleged it indicated a larger conspiracy that needed to be probed as to why such a play was allowed, the official said. The students alleged the play allegedly glorified Nathuram Godse, and also justified assassination of Mahatama Gandhi, whom the play held responsible for the partition of India, the official added. BHU PRO Rajesh Singh said that students were giving a five-minute performance of the play ,which they had chosen on their own. "There is no such conspiracy in it or some deliberate intention to perform it and also there is nothing wrong if the student staged the play of his own choice," he said.

Some students objected. One of them, Vikas, lodged a complaint with the varsity as well as the police. The varsity is further probing the matter," Rajesh Singh said. A police official also confirmed that a complaint regarding the play had been received. When contacted, Vikas said the play was based on a book banned by the Maharashtra government. The play was staged in BHU on Feb 20, on which I lodged my objection by filing complaints with the police and varsity administration, he said. A video of the play being performed by students was uploaded on social media. Student website BHU Buzz Buzz was flooded with comments and views of students on the controversial play, with supporting it citing freedom of speech and expression, whereas others said the play was an embarrassment.

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