New Delhi: 

The ABVP, the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), placed the portrait in the campus without seeking the prior approval from the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU), which is currently led by a left affiliated panel. This installation has sparked a greater debate, with the left leaning organisations in the campus terming this act as “provocative and unauthorised”.

A political storm has erupted in the premises of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus, after a leader from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has installed a portrait of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar inside the Students’ Union Office.

Savarkar portrait installed

On May 28, Vaibhav Meena, joint secretary of the JNUSU installed the garlanded portrait of Savarkar inside his office, next to Jawaharlal Nehru. It was placed to commemorate his birth anniversary, as stated by Meena.

He also acknowledged the fact that this was the first time that such an act has been done in the recognition of Savarkar’s indispensable role in India’s freedom struggle as a revolutionary political thinker, poet, and writer.

However, other office bearers have reportedly objected to this move. JNUSU President Nitish Kumar has instructed all organisations and individuals to avoid carrying out such acts without following correct protocol. “We have noticed that portraits are being installed in the JNUSU Office without previous consultation in the Council meeting. A portrait in the JNUSU Office cannot be installed without a resolution passed by the council meeting, which has long been a convention,” he said.

Savarkar row not a first on campus

The JNU administration, is yet to issue an official statement. However, internal discussions to resolve the issue are underway. JNU, once again, draws widespread attention for being the hub of political and ideological debates.

This is not the first incident where Savarkar’s legacy has caused a friction in student politics. In 2019, ABVP had installed busts of Savarkar, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh on Delhi University’s campus without prior approval and clearance. It led to protests by the National Students Union of India (NSUI). Similarly, in 2020, JNU students repainted a campus road sign as renamed as “Savarkar Marg”. Former JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh put up pictures of the signboard showing that the name of Dr BR Ambedkar had been painted over Savarkar’s.

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