Students at NALSAR University of Law were set for the screening of a documentary on student leader and former Jawaharlal Nehru University scholar Umar Khalid, who has been imprisoned since 2020 without a concluded trial.

The documentary, which was screened at the university as part of a human rights event, was to provide insights into the life of Khalid.

Umar Khalid is a well-known student leader involved in several controversies and legal cases. The documentary highlighted his role as a critic of the government as well as the problems he has faced due to his activism.

Besides, the film was meant to highlight his role as a nationalist and his stance on freedom of speech and other related issues.

The documentary screening at NALSAR was organised by the university students with the Film and Media Committee’s help. It was attended by many students, teachers, activists, and journalists.

After the screening, a panel of filmmakers, writers, and activists was organised to discuss the issues raised in the film. The audience was split; some seemed to sympathise with Khalid, while others were quick to condemn him.

Khalid’s screening at NALSAR was met with widespread disapproval from the student wing of the ruling party, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). They claimed that the documentary promoted Khalid, an anti-national, and that it propagated lies about the government.

In fact, ABVP activists protested outside the university before the screening started. They accused the university of wanting to create a disturbance by showing the documentary and demanded that it be cancelled. They further urged the administration to stop supporting such “anti-national elements.”

NALSAR administration stood by its decision to screen the documentary, saying that it was committed to academic freedom of expression and that the university wanted to foster a spirit of debate and dialogue by showing different points of view.

“It was essential to witness the issues raised in the film to understand the complexities of the situation,” it added.

Many students appreciated the decision to screen the documentary, calling it a bold move, while others blamed the university for fueling the unrest in the country by giving a platform to Khalid, an anti-national.

The documentary screening and the subsequent protests at NALSAR highlighted the rift between free speech and nationalism by any means.

The row also brings to light the larger debate about dissent, freedom of speech, and the rights of youth in general in the country.