Archive · 4 Sep 2026
BJP MLA calls for nationalism, renaming of Jadavpur University
BJP MLA Sarbori Mukherjee spoke at Jadavpur University about nationalism.
She said activities she considers anti-national should not be allowed on campus.
She also asked for the university to be renamed after Rishi Aurobindo.
Mukherjee said students should protest against slogans supporting Lenin, Stalin and Mao.
Her event was organised by a platform connected to the BJP.
She also discussed damage to the university emblem during an earlier ABVP protest.
An ABVP representative linked Nandalal Bose’s artwork to images of Ram, Sita and Lakshman.
An art teacher said those images were meant to represent the Indus Valley civilisation, not a partisan religious message.
BJP MLA Sarbori Mukherjee said “anti-national activities” would not be tolerated at Jadavpur University.
Mukherjee demanded that the university be renamed after Rishi Aurobindo.
She called for collective slogans against Lenin, Stalin and Mao when opposing slogans are raised.
Her remarks came at a pro-BJP programme held at JU’s Triguna Sen auditorium.
A government art teacher said Nandalal Bose’s Constitution artwork was not created from a partisan religious viewpoint.
- Who
- BJP Jadavpur MLA Sarbori Mukherjee, an ABVP representative and a government art college teacher.
- What
- Mukherjee called for nationalism on campus, opposition to “anti-national activities,” and renaming Jadavpur University after Rishi Aurobindo.
- When
- Thursday; the article also refers to an earlier incident on August 20 and an attack about a fortnight earlier.
- Where
- Triguna Sen auditorium, Jadavpur University, Kolkata.
- Why
- Mukherjee said the university should preserve nationalism and oppose slogans or activities she considers anti-national.
Nationalist interpretation
Historical and non-partisan interpretation
Meaning of Nandalal Bose’s artwork
Nationalist interpretation
Mukherjee and an ABVP representative highlighted Bose’s depictions of Ram, Sita and Lakshman and argued that such cultural imagery should be represented on the university campus.
Historical and non-partisan interpretation
A government art college teacher said the images represented the Indus Valley civilisation and were not painted from a partisan religious viewpoint.
Campus slogans and political identity
Nationalist interpretation
Mukherjee said nationalism should remain central at Jadavpur University and proposed collective opposition to slogans associated with Lenin, Stalin and Mao.
Historical and non-partisan interpretation
The article reports that Mukherjee’s remarks were made amid cheers of “Jai Sri Ram,” while also noting the broader dispute over political and ideological messaging on campus.
- Speaker
- Sarbori Mukherjee, BJP MLA from Jadavpur
- Venue
- Triguna Sen auditorium at Jadavpur University
- Main demand
- Rename Jadavpur University after Rishi Aurobindo
- Programme organiser
- Haripada Bharati Smriti Raksha Committee
- Earlier incident
- Damage to the university emblem was reported during an ABVP protest at Gate No. 4 on August 20
- Historical reference
- Koteswara Rao, known as Kisenji, was described as a Maoist leader killed in an encounter after the Mamata Banerjee government came to power in May 2011