NIT Durgapur Dance Video Sparks Debate After Students Dance on ‘Chikni Chameli’, Professor Interrupts 

The video of a freshers' induction programme at NIT Durgapur has gone viral after Associate Dean of Student Welfare Dr Manika Saha interrupted a student dance performance to the Bollywood song “Chikni Chameli”. The incident has led to discussion on the decorum of institutions, student expression and the role of faculty in cultural performances at formal campus events.

What went wrong in NIT Durgapur induction programme?

The incident happened during an induction programme at the National Institute of Technology Durgapur, where a group of students was performing on stage while the rest of the students were watching.

The students were performing a dance, and Dr Saha interrupted it and asked the students, “ist it a joke?” and whether they had taken permission from their faculty advisers for the dance performance or not, reports said. She also raised concerns about the appropriateness of the performance for an induction programme in a college.

The incident was filmed and posted on social media, sparking mixed opinions on the professor's action and the students' performance. Dr Manika Saha is the Associate Dean (Student Welfare) of NIT Durgapur as mentioned in the official website.

Why was the NIT Durgapur dance video viral?

The students' selection of “Chikni Chameli” song and the way the performance was cut short is the source of controversy. The viral clip features students playing on stage while other students observe them. The professor was asked by reports if the performance was approved and if it was suitable for the induction programme.

The video that is available, however, does not give the full picture of what happened. It does not make any statement on whether the performance was approved beforehand or not, whether any instructions were given to the students or what happened before or after the recording. The NIT dance video has thus sparked a debate on what is expected during a formal institutional event.

What is everyone saying about the NIT Durgapur incident?

Reactions on social media have been mixed. Some users have been supportive of the professor's intervention saying that an induction programme is a formal event in the institution and performances should be conducted according to the decorum that is expected at the formal event.

Others have criticised the manner in which the performance was stopped. They say that the students should be given the liberty to perform cultural activities and that their concerns over the song or the choreography could have been taken up without making the performers look bad in public.

There has also been some questioning of whether there had been clear guidance given to students on cultural performances prior to the programme. The discussion has now shifted from the selection of a song to questions of approval processes, guidelines for events, and what to do when there are a concern about student performances.

Has NIT Durgapur given a statement?

On August 26, 2026, NIT Durgapur has not released any official statement regarding the incident on their official website. According to the institute's website, Dr Saha is the Associate Dean (Student Welfare) at the institute and has information regarding student activities and institutional programmes. However, as of the time of publication there was no public clarification regarding the viral dance video. The video that is circulating is only part of this incident, as there is no official comment from the institute, nor from those involved.

What does the NIT Durgapur dance video debate imply for students?

The incident has brought to the fore a broader debate on the issue of balancing institutional decorum and student expression in college functions. Induction programmes are typically formal events that welcome new students to campus and introduce them to campus life and institutional expectations. Cultural activities are also an integral part of student life, and provide opportunities for students to participate and express themselves.

That tension has now come out into the open with the NIT Durgapur dance video, and it has grown to include the approval processes, guidelines for cultural shows and how disciplinary issues are conveyed to the students.

At present, the video available does not provide any evidence of any particular rule being infringed. Further detail from the institute, event organisers or the students themselves would be necessary for a definitive evaluation.