Ram Navami was celebrated for the first time on the historically Left-leaning campus of Jadavpur University this yeare, marking a symbolic moment in the campus’s politically charged history.
The event was organised by the Rashtriya Swayam Sevaksangh (RSS)-affiliated student wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), without formal permission from the university authorities.
The main gate of the university’s technology building turned into a battleground of ideologies — on one side, a graffiti mural featuring Karl Marx and Lenin and on the other, a fiery poem by revolutionary poet Navarun Bhattacharya painted on the wall. Above it, a flex banner with an image of Lord Ram and the slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’ fluttered in the breeze — a stark visual of ideological contrast.
While the event itself took place peacefully, the political implications were loud and clear.
ABVP’s South Bengal state secretary Aniruddha Sarkar called the celebration a “political commitment.”
“Last year, we were attacked for trying to hold a Ram Navami procession. This year, we were determined to do it and we did. If Iftar parties can happen on campus, why not Ram Navami?” he asked.
Left-leaning student organisations were quick to respond. SFI leader Kaushiki Bhattacharya dismissed the communal angle, saying, “Saraswati Puja and Durga Puja are regularly observed on campus. Bringing up Iftar is a deliberate attempt to sow division. Ordinary students of Jadavpur are resisting this kind of politics.”
The fact that the celebration took place on a Sunday, when the campus was relatively empty, also helped avoid confrontation.
“It’s not just that the campus was empty. People here are not against festivals — they are against hate,” Kaushiki added.
Political observers noted that this event, while small in scale, has sent a strong message. Jadavpur University, long regarded as a Left stronghold — often referred to as Left Fort — witnessed what many BJP leaders are calling a symbolic “surgical strike.”
The ABVP appears to be gaining traction among a section of students, particularly in the engineering departments. This year, they managed to organise their efforts in a more structured and visible way. Notably, former Vice-Chancellor Buddhadeb Sau was also present at the celebration.
This development has energised the BJP camp. With Ram Navami celebrations taking place across the state, top BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram and Dilip Ghosh in Kharagpur, participated in processions. BJP MP Locket Chatterjee joined the celebrations in New Town, even clashing with police over procession routes.
Interestingly, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders also participated in several Ram Navami events across Bengal. MP Shatabdi Roy marched in Siuri, while former minister Krishnendu Narayan Chowdhury joined celebrations in Malda. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee posted Ram Navami wishes on X, while simultaneously calling for peace and communal harmony.
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