Kalakshetra row: Leftists use an alleged sexual harassment case to malign Hinduism

The Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai has lately come below the scanner over sexual harassment allegations, with leftist intellectuals and publications exploiting the chance to focus on the Hindu custom of ‘guru-shishya parampara.’

The controversy started on December 24, 2022, when an ex-director of Kalakshetra named Leela Samson (2005-2012) alleged {that a} instructor on the Rukmani College of Fine Arts (an establishment run by Kalakshetra Foundation) had been harassing and molesting college students for over 10 years.

She had claimed, “A public institution, a haven of the highest art and contemplation — now turning a blind eye to how young girls are treated. They are vulnerable. A male member of the staff is known to be threatening and molesting them, who are not yet adults.”

Screengrab of the now-deleted Facebook submit of Leela Samson

“In my alma mater no less! We have to get society as a whole, the staff, the man’s wife and the victims to admit of guilt. The said teacher must be brought to book. He must be punished. Rukmini Devi did not build an institution and all her ideals to be abused so,” Samson additional alleged.

The former Director of the Kalakshetra Foundation, nevertheless, didn’t identify the accused instructor and even deleted her contentious submit. Interestingly, the screenshot of her Facebook submit was re-posted by a US-based ‘Care Spaces‘ on December 25, 2022.

The organisation shared a number of tales of scholars, who’ve allegedly been harassed by an assistant dance professor named Hari Padman. In January this yr, ‘Care Spaces’ began an internet petition (with 700+ signatories), searching for transparency and redressal of allegations of sexual misconduct.

The Kalakshetra Foundation (an autonomous physique below the Union Ministry of Culture) has an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), which was established below Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act [pdf].

Although it’s alleged that no ‘official complaint’ was filed in opposition to the mentioned instructor, the Internal Complaints Committee nonetheless took suo motu cognisance of the matter.

The inside investigation, headed by the present director (Kalakshetra Foundation) Revathi Ramachandran discovered the allegations to be ‘rumours’ manufactured by ‘vested interests’ to malign the status of the establishment. On March 19 this yr, ICC gave a clear chit to the accused instructor Hari Padman.

The Commission has come to a conclusion to shut the matter because the sufferer has denied sexual harassment whereas she was inquired by the IC committee. @sharmarekha

— NCW (@NCWIndia) March 25, 2023

The National Commission for Women (NCW), which initially demanded motion in opposition to Hari Padman by the Tamil Nadu DGP, later sought to shut the case.

In a press release, it famous, “The Director’s clarification and the internal complaints committee report did not find any evidence of sexual harassment on campus. The Commission has come to a conclusion to close the matter as the victim has denied sexual harassment while she was inquired by the IC committee.”

Meanwhile, the Kalakshetra Foundation warned in opposition to gossiping, rumour-mongering and bad-mouthing in regards to the institute in public. “Those engaged in such activities are warned that appropriate legal action will be taken against them,” it had cautioned, which was later dubbed as ‘gag order.’

Leftist publications malign Hindu traditions

Although the Internal Complaints Committee has exonerated Hari Padman and the NCW has sought closure of the case, some college students and alumni are clearly sad with the choice. They have accused the incumbent director Revathi Ramachandran of being ‘sympathetic’ to the accused instructor.

While we search justice for the alleged victims, you will need to be aware how leftist publications akin to The Print and The News Minute are attacking the Hindu custom of ‘guru-shishya parampara‘ below the pretext of reporting on allegations of sexual misconduct on the Kalakshetra Foundation.

In an article (archive) printed on March 21, senior correspondent at The Print, Shubhangi Misra, attributed the alleged sexual harassment instances to “the skewed power dynamic and the normalisation of the ancient guru-shishya dynamic, even in modern times.”

To additional again the outrageous claims, the leftist publication quoted one ‘activist’ TM Krishna as saying, “Any mentor-mentee relationship is unequal. In the case of the guru-shishya parampara, the guru’s unbridled power is sanctified.”

Several Kalakshetra college students, alumni and school members allege sexual harassment by a strong senior school member has been happening unchecked & unabated for years. College has exonerated the instructor, issued a gag order in opposition to additional discussions .https://t.co/9K1NJ4y1DG

— Shubhangi Misra (@shubhangi_misra) March 21, 2023

“This leads to toxic class environments, discouragements, verbal and sexual abuse, and control over the student’s life…Just because some of us had healthy relationships with our guru doesn’t mean the system is all right,” he had claimed.

The Print quoted one nameless instructor as saying, “This culture of seva (service) is not just about one teacher. Gurus who came before him also did the same things.” It additionally cited allegations in opposition to different academics to color the ‘guru-shishya dynamic’ as sinister.

The vicious propaganda piece thus insinuated that the core of sexual harassment of scholars in establishments is the traditional Hindu custom of reverence that exists between a scholar and instructor. This is akin to suggesting that establishments devoid of such a dynamic are freed from sexual misconduct.

It is attention-grabbing to notice how the leftist outlet used allegations in opposition to a handful of academics in classical arts to malign the centuries-old custom of ‘guru-shishya’ prevalent in Hindu tradition.

The tradition of silence and harassment that Kalakshetra allowed: Survivors communicate out. I noticed individuals on Twitter claiming there aren’t any complainants. We have spoken to 2 girls, one who wished herself to be named https://t.co/DBJ8p8wF19

— Dhanya Rajendran (@dhanyarajendran) March 26, 2023

An identical stunt to hyperlink Hindu tradition to an setting ‘conducive of sexual abuse’ was tried by one other propaganda information outlet, The News Minute.

It claimed, “TNM spoke to six current staffers at Kalakshetra Foundation on the condition of anonymity, who alleged that the culture at Kalakshetra, and the students’ isolation from the outside world, enables abuse.”

The News Minute cited strict self-discipline on the Kalakshetra Foundation to make for its frivolous and sweeping conclusions. “Famous artists are the gurus at the institute, and this means the power differential between students and teachers is huge, said staffers TNM spoke to,” it additional insinuated.

While the recnt articles in publicatns akin to TNM deliver to gentle instances of sexual abuse college students have confronted in kalakshetra, it’s disappointing to see 0 deal with how brahminic nationalism formed the establishment’s insurance policies and the way that performs an enormous position within the tradition of abuse. 1

— Rituparna Pal (@rituparnahere) March 26, 2023

Leftist intellectuals and social media activists too had been on the forefront of the defamation marketing campaign in opposition to Hinduism. One Rituparna Pal went on responsible ‘Brahminic nationalism’ for the alleged tradition of abuse on the Kalakshetra Foundation.

She claimed, “While the recent articles in publications such as TNM bring to light cases of sexual abuse students have faced in Kalakshetra, it’s disappointing to see 0 focus on how brahminic nationalism shaped the institution’s policies and how that plays a huge role in the culture of abuse.”

Another such activist, Nrithya Pillai, additionally exploited the allegations of sexual misconduct to bash the Brahmin neighborhood.

If there’s a tradition of sexism , misogyny , physique shaming , slut shaming and brahminism – the road between abuse and sexual abuse could be very blurred. What then constitutes sexual abuse in such an area ? This is a query we have to reply once we consider locations like Kalakshetra!

— NrithyaPillai (@nrithyapillai) March 26, 2023

“If there is a culture of sexism, misogyny, body shaming, slut shaming and Brahminism – the line between abuse and sexual abuse is very blurred. What then constitutes sexual abuse in such a space? This is a question we need to answer when we think of places like Kalakshetra!” she brazened it out.

Please learn the newest submit from @thenewsminute
The individual has been named. The sufferer have to be protected now since she has spoken of her persistent humiliation. For all these dancers sitting on the fence munching popcorn, “wake up” and realise that every one just isn’t “divine” and…

— Anita Ratnam (@aratnam) March 26, 2023

Popular performer ‘Anita Ratnam’ steered that there’s nothing sacred or divine in regards to the Hindu dance type of Bharatnatyam. “For all those dancers sitting on the fence munching popcorn, “wake up” and realise that every one just isn’t “divine” and “sacred” about our Dance Art,” she claimed.

The allegations levelled in opposition to a instructor on the Kalakshetra Foundation thus gave a possibility to the same old suspects to make all of it about Hinduism, its wealthy tradition and historical traditions.