Solidarity with SRFTI students and their 5 DEMANDS!

Sonali Bhattacharyya, award-winning UK playwright and screenwriter reads a statement by South Asia Solidarity Group in support of the students at Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI)

Ever since the BJP came to power in West Bengal in May this year on the basis of manipulated electoral rolls, we have seen a growing wave of violence by Hindu supremacist organisations. Students at several institutions have been among those targeted by this violence. One of these institutions is the renowned Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI).

We find the recent attacks on students at the Institute and the way the students have been treated by the Vice Chancellor, Santosh Ajmera,  deeply disturbing.

We stand in unwavering solidarity with the SRFTI students as they face the violence of Hindutva organisations who appear to have the support of the Vice Chancellor. 

In the last week of September, members of the RSS-backed Akhil Bhartiya Grahak Panchayat  were allowed to book a room on the campus. Students who protested peacefully against the meeting were attacked, causing serious injuries, with one student requiring plastic surgery.

Following this, the  students were told, verbally, by the Vice Chancellor that he would ensure their safety.

But on 2nd October, the Students Union learnt that another RSS affiliated organization, the Hindu Jagran Manch, had  called for a march to the Institute, and were boasting that they would ‘shed the blood’ of the students. The Students Union informed the Vice Chancellor and the  administration who once again assured them that the Hindutva mob would be prevented from coming. However, on 4th October, the mob did arrive, with slogans of Desh ke Gaddaron ko, Goli Maro Saalon ko (Shoot the Traitors to the nation!). The mob attacked students with stones and bottles and two students were seriously injured.

The Vice Chancellor did nothing to protect the students, but instead blamed them for the violence. The students responded with a Gherao of the Vice Chancellor’s Office, and more recently an indefinite sit-in in front of the administration building, demanding his resignation.

Since then, the students have been served with disciplinary notices with unfounded allegations against them. At the same time surveillance has been heightened with the installation of CCTV cameras, students have been deprived of access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities, and they have been told that the Institute would be closed until 13th November 2026.  Students have been told to leave their hostels  and  threatened with legal action if they did not comply.

The students have decided to stay on and continue their protest. 

 On 27^th October, after they held a mashal juloos, a torchlight procession, 40 police were deployed in the campus.

We stand in solidarity with the SRFTI students as they demand:

1. A General Council Meeting must be held where those responsible for permitting the entry of RSS-affiliated organizations are held accountable.

2. The rules must be amended to prevent the renting out of SRFTI premises to any external organization.

3. Vice-Chancellor Santosh Ajmera must resign. He has intimidated and threatened faculty and students and has admitted to being in direct touch with members of the RSS-affiliated mob that attacked students on October 4th.

4. Rustication (suspension) notices, disciplinary actions, and all show cause notices issued to students must be revoked immediately and no additional disciplinary action must be taken against students.

5. Finally, the SRFTI campus must be demilitarised with police withdrawn and all surveillance equipment removed