Several students associated with the college’s drama club claimed they were repeatedly asked to participate in the play, which they alleged contains political references and an appeal to the audience to raise the slogan “Jai Shri Ram”.
Kolkata, oh Kolkata! Known for its rich culture, delicious street food, and the occasional political drama. Now, it seems that the students of Scottish Church College have found themselves in a bit of a pickle, or should I say, a theatrical conundrum. The college recently decided to put on a play titled ‘Namo Seva — Untold Stories’, which sounds more like a campaign slogan than a theatrical masterpiece. And guess what? Some students are alleging they faced pressure to participate. Now, that’s a plot twist worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy!
According to reports, a number of students claimed they were warned that if they didn’t join the cast, their internal examination marks and project assessments could take a hit. Yikes! Talk about raising the stakes. I mean, who knew that saying ‘no’ to a play could have such dramatic consequences? It’s almost as if they were auditioning for a role in a horror film titled ‘The Consequences of Non-Participation’.
However, before you grab your pitchforks and start a rally outside the college gates, let’s hear from Principal Madhumanjari Mandal. She stepped forward to deny these allegations, stating that participation in the play was entirely voluntary. Voluntary, huh? That’s a fancy word for ‘you really should do this if you want to keep your grades intact’. It’s almost as if the word ‘voluntary’ has taken on a new meaning in the college’s dictionary.
The college claims it’s merely following the directives of the state Higher Education Department to commemorate the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Now, I’m not saying that celebrating a birthday is a bad idea, but when it involves students feeling coerced into a performance, you have to wonder if the party hats are worth the potential fallout.
The situation has sparked quite the debate, with students feeling like they’re caught in the middle of a political play rather than a theatrical one. After all, who knew college life would include mandatory drama classes? One student reportedly expressed their frustration, saying, ‘We just want to focus on our studies, not become unwitting participants in a political agenda.’ Can you blame them?
So, what’s next for Scottish Church College? Will they hold auditions for the next big play, or will they instead focus on ensuring that students can express their opinions without fearing for their grades? Only time will tell. In the meantime, let’s hope that the only pressure students face is deciding which flavor of ice cream to pick during their next break, not whether to act in a play that feels more like a political rally.
Remember, folks, while theater can be a great way to express creativity, it should never come at the cost of academic integrity. Here’s to hoping that the next production at Scottish Church College is a little less controversial and a lot more about the art of performance without the political strings attached!
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