Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Jadavpur University Faces Escalating Graffiti War Between Student Unions
Jadavpur University has a fight over political writing and paintings on its walls.
Different student groups keep covering the campus with new graffiti.
Right-wing groups recently painted messages to answer graffiti by Left-wing groups.
The vice-chancellor says the walls are becoming very dirty and difficult to clean.
He is considering creating one special area where students can put graffiti.
Left-leaning students say this plan distracts people from an alleged attack by ABVP supporters.
They say cameras recorded the incident and that nobody has been arrested.
The university says it filed a police report and created a commission to investigate.
Jadavpur University has been unable to stop repeated political graffiti across its campus walls.
Right-wing groups NSF and ABVP painted counter-graffiti on Friday and Saturday.
Vice-chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharjee is considering a designated campus zone for graffiti.
Left-leaning students allege authorities are diverting attention from alleged ABVP vandalism on August 20.
The university says it filed an FIR and appointed an enquiry commission, while police have made no arrests reported here.
- Who
- Jadavpur University authorities, vice-chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharjee, Left-leaning student groups, the Nationalist Students Front, and the university unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad are involved.
- What
- Student groups are engaged in an ongoing dispute involving political graffiti, counter-graffiti, and alleged campus vandalism.
- When
- The latest counter-graffiti was painted on Friday and Saturday; the alleged vandalism occurred on August 20.
- Where
- Jadavpur University campus in Kolkata, including walls and the portico of its administrative headquarters.
- Why
- Student groups are using graffiti to express or counter political positions, while the university is seeking to control repeated wall painting and address unrest.
Left-leaning student groups
University authorities and right-wing groups
Purpose of the designated graffiti zone
Left-leaning student groups
Left-leaning students allege that focusing on graffiti and a designated zone distracts from the alleged ABVP-led vandalism on August 20.
University authorities and right-wing groups
The vice-chancellor says a designated zone could prevent repeated wall painting and keep the campus cleaner; ABVP unit president Nikhil Das welcomed the idea.
Response to the August 20 incident
Left-leaning student groups
Left-leaning students say CCTV footage showed ABVP supporters entering the campus, burning posters and banners, and making threats, and they criticize the lack of arrests reported in the article.
University authorities and right-wing groups
The university says it filed an FIR, formed an enquiry commission, and gave the police the required documents; the vice-chancellor said the police are responsible for the investigation.
Political graffiti on campus walls
Left-leaning student groups
Left student groups have defended their long-standing practice of painting political graffiti and criticized efforts to erase messages, including slogans about Kisenji and Palestine.
University authorities and right-wing groups
The vice-chancellor said he does not encourage political graffiti, while Suvendu Adhikari said the state government would not allow certain slogans on university walls.
- University
- Jadavpur University
- Vice-chancellor
- Chiranjib Bhattacharjee
- Latest graffiti activity
- The Nationalist Students Front and the university unit of the ABVP painted graffiti on Friday and Saturday.
- Proposed response
- The university is considering a designated zone for graffiti.
- Alleged August 20 incident
- ABVP supporters allegedly entered the campus twice and vandalised posters and banners of Left student organisations.
- Investigation status
- The university says it filed an FIR, appointed an enquiry commission, and provided documents to police; the article reports no arrests.
- Estimated annual cost
- Nikhil Das said the university spends ₹15 lakh each year painting walls and removing graffiti before convocation.