VC asks writer Manoj Rupda to leave seminar at Chhattisgarh varsity; later says outrage ‘blown out of proportion’

A viral video on social media showing the Vice Chancellor of Guru Ghasidas Central University in Chhattisgarh asking a distinguished litterateur to leave a national seminar mid-session after a heated argument has drawn criticism, with many writers condemning the incident. The VC later said the matter was blown out of proportion.

It took place on Wednesday, during the one-day national seminar on ‘Samkalin Hindi Kahani: Badalte Jeevan Sandarbh (Contemporary Hindi Story: Changing Life Contexts)’ jointly organised by the Sahitya Akademi and the university in the presence of eminent writers, poets and literary figures from across the country.

A video shot by one of the students present in the hall shows the VC, Alok Kumar Chakrawal, while delivering his address, asking invited writer Manoj Rupda, seated in the front row, whether he was getting bored. In response, Rupda reportedly said Chakrawal should speak on the topic, which appeared to anger the latter.

In the video, Chakrawal is heard saying Rupda lacked the sense of how to speak to a Vice Chancellor and questioned who had invited him. He then asked Rupda to leave the programme and said he should not be invited again. The video showed Rupda immediately leaving the auditorium.

Rupda said about the incident, “I hold nothing personal against him. However, the voices raised in protest reflect a sense of insult that extends far beyond me — it is an insult to the entire community of writers. I believe this is an unprecedented incident. When I asked others if there was any fault in my words or conduct, the unanimous response was that I had done nothing wrong. Had I been at fault, I would have offered a sincere apology. This protest is not merely against the VC as an individual, but against a toxic mindset and a pattern of behaviour that is both negative and torturous toward the world of art and literature.”

Speaking to The Indian Express on Friday, Chakrawal said he felt Rupda’s reply was disrespectful and that the incident was being blown out of proportion. He said he was facing backlash on his personal phone as well as on social media.

“This situation is being unfairly blown out of proportion. I am currently facing a barrage of abuse both on my phone and social media, which raises a serious question: Is this how we behave? Is this a reflection of our culture? During my speech, I noticed he seemed distracted and was constantly looking at his phone. In a calm and respectful voice, I simply asked if everything was alright or if he was feeling bored. His response, however, was dismissive. He told me to ‘get back to the topic’. Given the disrespect shown to the platform, I merely suggested that if he was uncomfortable, he could leave,” the VC said.

Reacting to the incident, former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said, “The conduct of the Vice Chancellor of Guru Ghasidas University toward the renowned writer, Manoj Rupda, is highly condemnable. It is an act that tarnishes the dignity of the Vice-Chancellor’s office.”

Members of the Jan Sanskriti Manch, who were present at the seminar, condemned the incident. “This incident reflects the lack of respect for literature, art, and culture in Chhattisgarh. Manoj Rupda had come at the invitation of the Sahitya Akademi and the university,” the Manch’s Bilaspur unit president Mudit Mishra told The Indian Express.

Rupda has a deep connection with Chhattisgarh, having spent a considerable amount of time in Durg-Bhilai, although he now lives in Nagpur and continues his literary work, Mishra said.

Members of Jan Sanskriti Manch in Durg-Bhilai, Raipur, Ambikapur, Dhamtari and Bilaspur sought Chakrawal’s removal from the post, while a group of writers held a protest near the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar at Ambedkar Chowk in Raipur.