FTII Calls Off Sadhguru Event Last Minute, Doesn’t Cite Reason

Students claim the reason behind the cancelling of the event could be due to lack of interest & ongoing protests.

Spiritual guru Jaggi Vasudev, known as Sadhguru.

(Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

An event where Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev was scheduled to interact with the students of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) on campus on Wednesday, 19 September, was cancelled last minute on Tuesday, 18 September.

While the administration has not cited any official reason for cancelling the event, students from the institute told The Quint that it was likely because a majority of them did not wish to attend the event, and also on grounds of protests on campus.

A general body meeting of student representatives was called on the night of Monday, 17 September, to discuss whether the students wanted the event to take place at all, said a student of the institute.

“Since majority of the students weren’t too comfortable attending the event, it could be the most likely reason as to why it was cancelled.”

FTII student to The Quint

The students also spoke about ongoing student protests on campus.

“For quite some time now, students have been protesting against the administration’s decision to paint the ‘Shantaram’ – a part of the campus – white. It’s possible that the administration did not wish to hold the event amid these protests,” a student from FTII told The Quint.

Sadhguru, as part of an initiative of the Isha Foundation, had planned a month-long tour called ‘Youth and Truth’. As part of the programme, he was scheduled to visit 14 college campuses around India and interact with the students.

Responding to the cancellation of the event at FTII, Rahul Dubey, the spokesperson for Isha Foundation told Pune Mirror:

“As final confirmation of the event ‘Youth and Truth’ at the FTII did not come in time, Sadhguru’s time was committed to other engagements. We are sorry for the disappointment it may have caused to certain people. We wish to do the event in the near future.”