Defying BJP, Ram Ke Naam Documentary Screened in Kottayam, Kerala

In a bold move, the CPI(M)s youth and student wings organized a screening of the controversial documentary Ram Ke Naam in Kottayam, Kerala, despite opposition from the BJP and right-wing activists. The screening sparked protests and discussions about freedom of expression and the sensitive topic of communal violence.

In a defiant move, the youth and student wings of the ruling Communist Party of India (CPI-M) in Kerala organized a screening of the controversial documentary titled "Ram Ke Naam" on Tuesday night in front of a state-run film institute in Kottayam district. The event, organized by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and Students Federation of India (SFI), was held near the K R Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts in protest against local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and right-wing activists who had prevented its screening on Monday, the consecration day of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Protest Meeting and Solidarity

Ahead of the screening, a protest meeting was inaugurated by SFI state secretary P M Arsho, with several DYFI leaders and activists participating. The 1992 documentary, directed by award-winning filmmaker Anand Patwardhan, explores the campaign waged by the Vishva Hindu Parishad to build a Ram temple at the then-disrupted site in Ayodhya, as well as the communal violence that it triggered.

Initial Screening Attempt and Obstruction

On Monday, the students' union of the institute attempted to screen the documentary at 9:30 pm, with over 40 students, including girls, present. However, BJP functionaries allegedly rushed to the spot and threatened them to stop the screening, prompting the students to seek police intervention. The police, recognizing the tense atmosphere, requested the students to screen the documentary inside the campus, to which they agreed.

Defiant Screening and Challenge

In a show of solidarity with the students, the SFI and DYFI leaders decided to organize a screening of the documentary at the same spot on Tuesday. DYFI central committee member Jaick C Thomas announced that the screening would take place at 7 pm in front of the institute, near its gate, challenging the Sangh activists to block it. He also mentioned that some individuals from a nearby panchayat had objected to the screening.

Planned Statewide Screenings

The DYFI state leadership declared that the documentary would be screened in other colleges across the state as well, defying any attempts at censorship or intimidation. This bold move by the CPI-M's youth and student wings highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding freedom of expression and the right to dissent in India.