A major controversy has erupted at Guru Ghasidas Central University in Chhattisgarh after its Vice Chancellor, Alok Kumar Chakrawal, asked invited writer Manoj Rupda to leave a national seminar mid-session. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, was captured in a video that went viral on social media, drawing sharp criticism from the literary community and political figures.
The Confrontation That Sparked the Row
The altercation took place during a one-day national seminar titled 'Samkalin Hindi Kahani: Badalte Jeevan Sandarbh' (Contemporary Hindi Story: Changing Life Contexts). The event was jointly organized by the Sahitya Akademi and the university and attended by eminent writers and poets from across India.
According to the viral video, while VC Alok Kumar Chakrawal was delivering his address, he noticed writer Manoj Rupda in the front row. Chakrawal is heard asking Rupda if he was getting bored. In response, Rupda reportedly suggested that the VC should speak on the seminar's topic. This retort appeared to anger Chakrawal.
In the video, the VC is heard stating that Rupda lacked the sense of how to speak to a Vice Chancellor and questioned who had invited him. He then directly asked Rupda to leave the programme and instructed that the writer should not be invited again. The video shows Rupda complying immediately and walking out of the auditorium.
Divergent Accounts: Writer's Hurt and VC's Defence
Speaking about the incident, Manoj Rupda expressed that his personal grievance was secondary to the larger insult felt by the writing community. "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," Rupda said. He emphasized that the protest was against a "toxic mindset" detrimental to art and literature.
In his defence, VC Alok Kumar Chakrawal, speaking to The Indian Express on Friday, claimed the matter was being unfairly amplified. He stated that he noticed Rupda seemed distracted and was looking at his phone during the speech. "In a calm and respectful voice, I simply asked if everything was alright or if he was feeling bored. His response, however, was dismissive," Chakrawal explained. He asserted that given the "disrespect shown to the platform," he merely suggested Rupda could leave if uncomfortable.
The VC also lamented facing a backlash on his personal phone and social media, questioning the culture of such responses.
Widespread Condemnation and Political Reaction
The incident has triggered strong reactions from various quarters. Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel condemned the VC's conduct, calling it an act that "tarnishes the dignity of the Vice-Chancellor’s office."
Members of the Jan Sanskriti Manch, present at the seminar, strongly criticized the event. Mudit Mishra, president of the Manch's Bilaspur unit, stated it reflected a lack of respect for literature and culture in the state. He noted that Rupda, who has deep roots in Chhattisgarh's Durg-Bhilai region, was an invitee of both the Sahitya Akademi and the university.
In the aftermath, writers' groups in cities like Durg-Bhilai, Raipur, and Bilaspur have demanded Chakrawal's removal from his post. A group of writers also held a protest near the statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at Ambedkar Chowk in Raipur, signaling the depth of discontent within the literary fraternity over the treatment of one of their own.
