Filmmaker Anand Patwardhan stopped at Mumbai University gates

Anand Patwardhan speaks to protesting PhD scholar Bhadant Vimamsa through closed Mumbai University gates. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Weeks after actor Naseeruddin Shah wrote about being disinvited from an event at Mumbai University, local activists have alleged that filmmaker Anand Patwardhan was not allowed inside the university's Kalina campus on February 28. The filmmaker had visited the campus in the afternoon to meet Bhadant Vimamsa, a Buddhist monk and a former PhD student at the university, who has been protesting on campus to get the Pali Department an aided status.

"We arrived in a group of five to 10 when the security naturally asked us the purpose of our visit. They didn't permit our entry once they knew that we wanted to meet Bhadant Vimamsa. Eventually, he arrived at the gate and we could speak, however, it is still unfortunate to see how the student is being ill-treated at the university," said Patwardhan.

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Who is the student?

In protest for the past 190 days, Vimamsa or ‘Bhanteji', had initially set up a tent at the gate of Mumbai University in agitation for the Pali Department. However, in a recent mass cancellation, the university terminated several PhD registrations that were dormant and went beyond a maximum permitted timeline. Vimamsa's registration was also cancelled. Now, the student alleges that the university has taken away his tent, buffed up security, and also taken away his access to showers.

Why the protest?

• Demand for aided status for the Pali Department

• Construction of an independent Pali Language Bhavan

• Renovation of the Annabhau Sathe Students' Hostel and creation of a new hostel for 300 students.

Activist speak

Local activist, Sandesh Gaikwad: "Anand Patwardhan was present as a guest at an event in the vicinity, where Naseeruddin Shah was speaking. We started talking about Bhanteji and the concerns he faces at MU, soon after which we made an immediate plan to visit him at the campus. The security stopped us from entering the campus and we had to converse with the student through the gate."