JU political graffiti whitewashed after CM Adhikari’s remarks on campus politics

Following remarks by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari regarding campus politics, political graffiti displayed on the walls of Jadavpur University (JU) has been removed through extensive whitewashing. The action took place on Saturday, one day after Adhikari's comments during a public gathering near the university. The graffiti included messages supporting Palestinian independence, condemning fascism, and referencing civil rights activists, among others. Adhikari addressed a large audience outside the JU campus on Friday, where a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-organised event featured a mass singing of the national song Vande Mataram on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. During his speech, Adhikari expressed concerns about the influence of groups associated with Maoism, Palestinian solidarity movements, and advocates for Kashmiri independence within the university environment. He criticized the use of the word "azaadi," suggesting it referred to activities involving drug consumption rather than legitimate political aspirations. In response to these statements, a contractor hired by the university's maintenance department began covering the graffiti with white paint on Saturday morning. According to a professor who requested anonymity, the authorities aimed to avoid controversy and there had been no protests from student unions up to Sunday. Among the erased artworks was a depiction of Charlie Chaplin accompanied by the slogan "Fascism is not to be debated. It is to be smashed." Graffiti expressing support for the Palestinian cause and condemning Nazi actions were also removed. An older piece reading "Fascists do not deserve democracy. They deserve a bullet in the head" was similarly whitewashed. Additionally, a portrait of American civil rights activist Audre Lorde was covered. The removal of these artworks coincided with broader changes observed in the city, including the repainting of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kolkata from saffron to white. Officials attributed such changes to routine maintenance, though some viewed them as politically motivated. Dr. Indranil Khan, the state sports and youth services minister and an oncologist, endorsed the decision made by JU. He stated that as a renowned institution of higher learning, the university should remain free from radical political influences. In contrast, CPI(M) leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, a former mayor of Kolkata, opposed the move. He argued that universities serve as spaces for free thought and intellectual exchange, which cannot be suppressed through acts like whitewashing. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between political ideologies and academic freedom within educational institutions. While some view the removal of controversial graffiti as necessary to maintain the integrity of the university, others see it as an attempt to stifle dissenting voices and limit the scope of political discourse on campus. As discussions continue, the future direction of policies concerning campus expression remains uncertain.