TISS further accuses Ramadas of inviting controversial speakers and screening a banned documentary on campus. He counters that the documentary was publicly available and previously screened at TISS itself. Additionally, his social media promotion of the documentary is seen as a protest against the inauguration of a temple in Ayodhya.
Ramadas Prini Sivanadan, a PhD student from Kerala's Wayanad district, faces a two-year suspension and campus ban from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai. The institute accuses him of violating its code of conduct by participating in a protest and promoting a documentary critical of the government.
The dispute began in March 2024 with a show-cause notice alleging "anti-national" activities by Ramadas. The notice claims he misused TISS's name while joining a protest organized by an unrecognized student group. Ramadas argues he participated independently and never represented the institute.
TISS further accuses Ramadas of inviting controversial speakers and screening a banned documentary on campus. He counters that the documentary was publicly available and previously screened at TISS itself. Additionally, his social media promotion of the documentary is seen as a protest against the inauguration of a temple in Ayodhya.
Student organizations across India have rallied behind Ramadas, condemning the suspension as an infringement on the rights of marginalized students to education and free speech. They view it as an attempt to silence dissent.
Ramadas plans to challenge the suspension, asserting a violation of his constitutional rights. He emphasizes that his criticism of the government shouldn't be misconstrued as disrespect for the institute or the nation.
This case reignites discussions about free expression and the treatment of critical voices within educational institutions, particularly those from marginalized communities.