A student of the M S University has been arrested by Gujarat police for his work in an art show, part of final year examination, on the basis of a complaint by an activist advocate turned politician in the making. University headed by saffron coloured vice-chancellor Manoj Soni has suspended in charge dean of the Arts faculty. And there is protest from artists from Vadodara to Mumbai and Delhi against what they describe as the suppression of freedom of expression of an artist.

This is how the country’s prestigious university known for its valuable contribution in the field of arts is wrapped into a controversy that is snowballing into a major protest in the country. The student Chandra Mohan’s fate will be decided in the Court of law on Monday, but the controversy has raised several issues that expose the ugly face of moral policing and how some people can impose their views in the society.

In this case a final year student Chandra Mohan had his work on erotic theme which he had put up in an exhibition, part of annual examination and is held every year. The exhibition is more or less a students’ affair. However, an advocate Neeraj Jain found it objectionable and he with friends protested against the work and brought police. Chandra Mohan was arrested and he is in the custody for the last two days.

At the same time, the university suspended the in-charge dean of the Arts Shivaji Panikkar faculty for not following the dictate of the authorities. He was asked to tender a public apology for hurting public sentiments by arranging objectionable art show. This is how the University has explained its stand on the suspension of the in charge dean. Panikkar is an outstanding scholar known for his scholarly work. Shivaji Panikkar, who has served for 27 years at the department, said he was deeply pained because they have not valued the work I have done here. I have dedicated my life for the service of the department,” he said.

The controversy has led to the entire Arts faculty and artists of Vadodara and other parts of the country standing by the student Chandra Mohan. Students and others even had an art show of protest on the campus on Saturday where they had innovative expressions to express their anger against the advocate and the university authorities. One of the exhibits aiming at the controversial role of Niraj Jain said ‘ Help us! Law makers turn law breakers’.

Calling it “goonda raj” and “an attack on democracy”, danseuse Mallika Sarabhai said this kind of “moral policing” by the right-wing fundamentalists was no different from the fatwa on the Danish cartoonist some time ago. “They are completely against Hindu culture and Hindu values,” she said.

Sarabhai, herself a target of fundamental elements, said that the perpetrators didn’t know that not a single sculpture of our ancient temples is clothed. “I want to challenge them to show me a single sculpture which is clothed,” she asked.

Literary critic and cultural activist Ganesh Devy, former faculty of M S University, also condemned the incident by saying that it was “avoidable” and “unnecessary.” He said that there should not be censorship on the expressions of the students and paintings are their expressions. He added that M S University is known because of the faculty of fine Arts and it has been targeted by none other than the university authorities themselves.

Former acting vice chancellor of South Gujarat University, Kalpana Shah described the incident as “disgusting” calling it an attack on the artistic freedom. Those who were supposed to protect the students from outside elements have turned against the students and faculty members. It is very unfortunate, she said.

In Mumbai artists have formed Free Chandramohan Committee. They gathered at Gallery Chemould Prescort Road on May 12 not just to express their solidarity but to come up with a plan of action to counter the forces of intolerance that have laid claim to spaces of academia and creative expression.

There were artists, documentary filmmakers, lawyers, activists, Trade Unionists, the Parsi Panchayat, theatre persons, gallery owners and art collectors. Artist Tushar Joag, who was one of the external examiners at MSU when the incident occurred, conducted the panelist of speakers that consisted of filmmaker Govind Nihalani, theatre persons Alyque Padamsee and Dolly Thakore, human rights lawyer Y B Singh, artist Sudhir Patwardhan and media person Kalpana Sharma.

Talking about the legalities involved Singh said, “The case is really an illegal one as under section 196 of the IPC, one requires prior permission before conducting a prosecution on any bonafied citizen of India. Secondly, in order to issue section 153 A under which the student Chandramohan was arrested, there has to be an intention to hurt the religious sentiments of a community. The art work was not for public display and hence, there can be no such intent.”

Padamsee pointed out that as a part of Citizens for Justice and Peace I can say that our only bastion of hope is the court. A group of goons would have never had the courage to enter a university or vandalise the work of an artist if they did not have the support of the State and its police. One can see intolerance all around, be it with films like Fanaa or Fire that were banned by political parities or India’s celebrated artist M F Husain who is living in exile because of frivolous cases against him.

Patwardhan made a very relevant point saying that the issue was not restricted to a few lunatics on the fringes of society, as many of us raise objections and misunderstand the intention behind art. It is our job then to make those intentions clear and strengthen our autonomy.

Joag announced several actions planned for May 14, a bus to Vadodara will leave from Mumbai on the 13 and there will be a demonstration outside Jehangir Art Gallery on May 14 at 6 pm which has been synchronized with a nation-wide protest to condemn these acts of repression.