After actor Naseeruddin Shah was “not invited” to an event at Mumbai University on Urdu poetry last month, it was documentary filmmaker Anand Patwardhan’s turn on Saturday. The controversial director, whose films have targeted governments and political parties, was stopped at the main gate of the Kalina campus when he arrived to express his support to scholar Rajesh Pankhade who is now a Buddhist monk and goes by the name Bhadant Vimamsa. Vimamsa has been peacefully protesting on campus for more than six months.
The incident came to light after social activist Lokshere Sandesh Gaikwad responded strongly on social media and said the development raised concerns about freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest.
He described preventing the entry of a senior director as “unfortunate,” and said that the university must clarify its position.
Speaking to HT, Patwardhan said no proper reason was given to him for preventing him from entering the campus. He eventually met Bhadant Vimamsa at the university gate, presented him with a rose as a gesture of solidarity and inquired about his health.
While the university said, in an official statement, that it had no prior information about his visit, and that if the administration had been informed, it would have welcomed him.
The statement said: “At the same time, various administrative departments and professors reside with their families in apartments in this complex.” “Since a law and order issue has arisen due to Rajesh Balkande, who has been organizing an illegal sit-in at the Kalina campus, all concerned are being questioned before being allowed entry (to the campus).”
