On September 8, students of the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI) launched protests against the reinstatement of filmmaker Vipin Vijay as Dean, citing past allegations of sexual harassment made against him by an alumnus and two former professors of the institute. Soon, the protests received support from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Students’ Union, as well as other film school collectives across the country. As a result, on September 10, the Kolkata institute reversed the decision.

Speaking to mid-day on Wednesday before the re-appointment was reversed, Sarath S, a member of the SRFTI Students’ Union, said, “Reinstating someone with such a history into one of the most powerful administrative positions on campus is a betrayal of survivors. The Dean’s duty is to ensure a safe learning environment. How can we feel safe when the authority is handed to an individual accused by our own alumna and two ex-professors?”