The 1992 awards winning documentary ‘Ram Ke Naam’ is available in public domain on YouTube. However, the Documentary was screened successfully at JNUSU.
On the occasion of Babri Masjid Demolition anniversary, Jawaharlal Nehru Student Union (JNUSU) screened Anand Patwardhan’s documentary Ram ke Naam at JNUSU union hall on Saturday night. The university administration had ordered to cancel the screening or else the organizers will face disciplinary actions.
The university released a circular which says “This is to emphasise that such an unauthorised activity may disturb communal harmony and peaceful environment of the university campus. The University stated that disciplinary action will be initiated against those responsible for the event. The students are also instructed not to get provoked by the pamphlet, which is unauthorised and unwarranted”.
In response to the controversy, JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh said IN A tweet: “The RSS and its stooges shouldn’t talk about communal harmony. The JNUSU will go ahead with the screening of ‘Ram Ke Naam’. Communal harmony is being disturbed in this country by the right wing fundamentalists and they will be exposed every time they try to threaten us.”
Reacting to the claims of threats of disturbing communal harmony Aishe said, “The RSS and it’s stooges shouldn’t talk about communal harmony. The JNUSU will go ahead with the screening of ‘Ram Ke Naam’. Communal harmony is being disturbed in this country by the right wing fundamentalists and they will be exposed everytime they try to threaten us.”
She further said: “The JNUSU will not back out at any cost. This screening will happen and we request JNU student community to participate in huge numbers at 9 pm for watching this documentary.”
Screening of the film at JNUSU in Photos—
Anand Patwardhan came in support of JNUSU for screening of his film and said: “I want to tell you that you have every right to screen the film. In fact, it has received a U certificate from the CBFC. It also received a National Award for Best Investigative Documentary in 1999. After that, this film was broadcasted in Doordarshan as well because the High Court had ordered for it to be shown during the prime time as in at 9 pm.”
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The film explores the instigative campaign by Hindu right wing groups— months before the demolition if Babri Masjid — to construct Ram Temple at the site of Babri masjid which is believed to be the birth place of Ram by Hindus. The 16th century Babri masjid was demolished on December 6 by radical Hindu mob led by BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi among others. The demolition triggered massive communal violence across the country leading to thousands deaths.
On the same night Aishe Ghosh shared a video clip of the film on her twitter account to mark the screening successful and wrote: “Hundreds of students have gathered outside JNU students’ union office for the screening of Ram Ke Naam.”
The 1992 awards winning documentary ‘Ram Ke Naam‘ is available in public domain on YouTube with 8.9 IMDb rating.
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