News Tamil Nadu

Kalakshetra Alumnus Questions TN Women Commission Head’s Motives, Points Out Inconsistencies In Her ‘Galatta’ Interview

April 16, 2023
The Commune

In the past few weeks, Kalakshetra Foundation has been at the centre of a controversy after a social media campaign resulted in students protesting against the institution’s management over allegations of sexual harassment

Hari Padman, a Kalakshetra alumnus and teacher at the institute since 2002, was arrested on 3 April 2023, on charges of alleged sexual harassment and criminal intimidation.

The Kalakshetra Foundation’s board of directors has formed an independent inquiry committee to look into allegations of sexual harassment leveled against several teachers. In addition to suspending Padman pending the outcome of the investigation, the board had also terminated the services of three other teaching faculty members: Sanjith Lal, Sai Krishnan, and Sreenath.

Despite the action taken, leftist and Dravidian Stockist media outlet The News Minute has been going on a tirade against Kalakshetra Foundation accusing the institution of trying to silence voices and shielding the accused. The outlet has been peddling one particular side of the story while knowingly/unknowingly not bringing out the other side of the story.

AS Kumari, the head of Tamil Nadu State Women’s Commission had given an interview to a YouTube channel in which she alleges that she got more than 100 complaints of sexual harassment, casteism etc.

In the interview to ‘Galatta’ YouTube channel, another Dravidian Sotkcist media outlet, AS Kumari says that 10-12 girls and 2-3 boys had met her and shared the complaints. Apparently, all kinds of harassment – emotional, physical, sexual, mental -have been happening in the campus since 2008 she says.

However, a Bharatnatyam dancer named Iris Salman (Twitter handle – @iris_debieve) says why such a high profile case report has not been worded yet and put in public domain.

It is to be noted that Haripadman is under judicial custody with the Saidapet magistrate court dismissing the bail application.

“Why Madam did not approach ‘accused’ and tell them about charges, Is it not their constitutional right?”, Iris Salman questioned the state women’s commission head.

A video released by YouTuber Maridhas has an audio clip in which two girl students (a Marathi and a Malayali) discuss with Hari Padman. This audio clip reveals that some of the allegations against him hold no water.

Pointing out this video and a News 18 article, Iris Salman states that there is clear evidence that two points in FIR are false. “Why madam has concluded so fast?”, Iris asked questioning the AS Kumari’s intent.

When the interviewer asks AS Kumari whether she saw any proof of Hari Padman ‘torturing’ his students through WhatsApp, she claims that 2 students showed their WhatsApp in which she allegedly saw Hari Padman having deleted messages from his end. She also says that the students had replied to a few messages of his messages as ‘ok sir’, ‘no sir’, ‘sir’.

“Two alumni complained of inappropriate WhatsApp voice messages which they say Haripadman sir had deleted. ‘Delete for everyone’ can be done within 24hrs of sending only. Even based on deleted messages how did you CONCLUDE he is guilty when u say responses were only ok, yes, no?”, the Kalakshetra Alumnus asked the state women’s commission head.

Advocate Ajeetha who was quit as the external member of the Internal Committee (IC) at the Kalakshetra Foundation said in an interview to another Dravdian propagandist channel Nakkheeran that 3-4 cases were handled, disposed, action was taken against culprits who left campus.

Citing this statement of Ajeetha, Iris Salman questioned AS Kumari saying “So how are you confident Kalakshetra did not take action from ICC or that students lived in fear? Did you speak to Ajeetha ma’am?”

In the Galatta interview, AS Kumari also says that there are other ‘serious’ cases but she cannot talk about them due to confidentiality rules.

“Then how come you can talk about these cases alone? What is the criteria?”, Iris Salman asked AS Kumari.

“In the case of the boys, complaints came only in late March and Prevention of Sexual Harassment Committee is gender specific. Complainants were advised to go to police .The case of complainant who lodged FIR does not fall under POSH, and complainant was advised to go to police. Why Madam does not mention this?”

In the interview, AS Kumari also expresses admiration for teachers Nirmala, Nandhini, Indu. However, insiders from Kalakshetra who do not find themselves quoted in the mainstream media, say that this entire episode has been because of three teachers namely – Nirmala Nagarajan, Nandini Nagarajan and Indhu Nideesh – who harbour professional rivalry against Haripadman. A majority of the students who are aware of the drama have refused to come out and have chosen to remain silent fearing reprisal from the other side.

One of the student accused Nirmala of humiliating a student and a teacher during POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) conference led by lawyer BS Ajeetha in January.

Nirmala Nagarajan, Nandini Nagarajan, Indu Nideesh, and Rekha Menon have been accused by a few students of spreading rumours and gossips about people they don’t like.

Nirmala and Indu have allegedly been circulating rumours against Haripadman with a promise of removing probation concept if they protest against him.

Some of the students have written to the Ministry of Culture under which Kalakshetra comes, to order an investigation into the activities of Nirmala teacher, Nandini teacher and Indhu teacher.

Now Iris Salman has questioned AS Kumari hailing Nirmala et al sayiang “.. you speak in glowing support of teachers Nirmala, Nandhini, Indu. If these teachers are so concerned to support students and harassment is ongoing from 2008, why did they not speak up before? Why did Nirmala give major role to Haripadman in her production in March 2022?”

A Russian alumna of the college had earlier sent a complaint to the state women’s commission alleging harassment by a teacher. The faculty in question allegedly harassed her and even told her that her effort and expenditure on learning dance would go in vain if she did not ‘adjust’.

Iris Salman has questioned why AS Kumari has not mentioned about this incident where the alleged molester is still inside the campus.

“Why madam did not mention this? Why the three teachers are not concerned about him (Hari Padman) when accusation is much more serious than current FIR? Why students are not concerned?”, Iris Salman raised.

“Madam says students cannot be manipulated. In 2012, entire student body was arm twisted through speeches/tears to sign a document to oust Leela Samson by same female teachers; how madam knows if all students are willing protest participants? Why have u concluded guilt so quickly?”, she questioned.

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