KOLKATA: After Pondicherry University made headlines on Monday, more drama was created on the convocation stage on Wednesday at Jadavpur University in West Bengal.
CAA turns into ‘bits of paper’
Student Debosmita Choudhury, who cleared her MA examination in International Relations ripped the copy of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) to shreds.
Before bagging the gold medal, Choudhury asked for a moment after greeting the pro-Vice Chancellor as she went up to the podium to receive her degree and medal.
She took out a copy of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) along with her and then faced the gathering and addressed loudly: “Hum kagaz nahi dikhayenge (We will not show IDs) while tearing it into pieces
Before climbing off the stage, she also spiritedly shouted, “Inquilab Zindabad! (Long live the revolution!).”
Hum kagaz nahi dikhayenge
The slogan “Hum kagaz nahi dikhayenge” is a poem composed by lyricist and comedian Varun Grover that calls for an act of Civil Disobedience.
Justifying her act, Choudhury said, “Our Jadavpur University has always been anti-establishment. (Revolutionary leader) Aurobindo Ghosh had established the institute as a part of the struggle against the British.
“The fascist regime now in power at the Centre is needlessly and thoughtlessly passing one legislation after another. Our protest is against all these,” she said.
Student representatives said 25 others did not take their certificates in protest against the “communal” legislation and the “attack” on students elsewhere who were protesting against the law.
Nation doesn’t want this law
Former Vice-Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University Pabitra Sarkar said “proper respect” must be shown to the Governor, who is the ex-officio chancellor.
Sarkar though did not see anything wrong with Choudhury’s act on stage, saying it was a “form of protest” on an issue that has agitated the entire country.
“The entire country is objecting to the CAA. I don’t consider it a protest by any group or party. The entire country is protesting, and that has been reflected in the recent election results also. The government at the Centre should understand that the nation does not want this law.
“Tearing up the copy of the CA Act is a part of the protests. The nation does not want either the National Register of Citizens or the CAA. So the country is protesting. There may be various forms of protest. Here, the girl tore apart a copy of the Act as a show of protest,” said the noted linguist.