THE KALAKSHETRA CONTROVERSY 2023

THE KALAKSHETRA CONTROVERSY 2023

We feature below, the timeline of all the news reports surrounding the Kalakshetra incidents starting from March 21, 2023 - Articles are featured with the latest post on top. The story continues to evolve.

WEEK ONE - March 21 to 27

WEEK TWO - March 28 to April 3

WEEK THREE - April 4 to 10

WEEK FOUR - April 11 to 17

WEEK FIVE - April 18 to 24

WEEK SIX - April 25 to May1

WEEK SEVEN, EIGHT - May 2 to 15

WEEK ELEVEN, TWELVE - May 30 to Jun 12

WEEK NINETEEN - July 25 to 31

WEEK TWENTY, TWENTY ONE - Aug 1 to 14

WEEK TWENTY THREE - Aug 22 to 28

WEEK TWENTY EIGHT - Sep 26 to Oct 2

WEEK ONE - March 21 to 27

March 21, 2023
Kalakshetra Chennai has a PoSH problem. Students fume, gag order imposed, art world shaken
- Shubangi Mishra
Over a hundred students of Kalakshetra Foundation's fine arts college have been pushed to secret online forums to share stories of sexual harassment by the 'most influential person on campus'.

March 22, 2023
National Commission for Women wants T.N. police chief to take action on sexual harassment complaints against teacher of Kalakshetra Foundation
The NCW also sought a thorough, fair and time-bound investigation. A detailed action taken report must be sent to NCW with an inquiry to be initiated in case of the report not being satisfactory.

March 22, 2023
Sexual harassment allegations at Chennai's famous Kalakshetra, college issues gag order
The director of the foundation Revathi Ramachandran is also the person heading the sexual harassment committee which dismissed the allegations, raising serious questions of conflict of interest.

March 23, 2023
'Sexual harassment' at Kalakshetra: NCW seeks fair probe, artistes express solidarity
The internal committee took up the enquiry suo moto and a report has been filed after a thorough investigation.

March 23, 2023
File FIR against teacher of Kalakshetra on sexual harassment compnaint: NCW
-The Hindu Bureau

March 23, 2023
Kalakshetra director meets DGP
-Times News Network

March 24, 2023
Sexual harassment charges at Kalakshetra to be probed: DGP
- Divya Ch
Tamil Nadu police has assured an investigation of the sexual harassment accusations against a faculty in the Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai, after a National Commission of Women (NCW) directive seeking a report.

March 24, 2023
Kalakshetra: Press Statement

March 25, 2023
'Sexual harassment' at Kalakshetra Chennai: NCW to rescind letter to DGP demanding inquiry
- Shubhangi Misra
NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma says complainant met DGP & took back her complaint. In an official statement, Kalakshetra Foundation calls charges 'baseless'.

March 25, 2023
Baseless charges of sexual abuse part of scurrilous campaign to malign reputation, says Kalakshetra
- Vinodh Arulappan
Tamil Nadu DGP orders Chennai police commissioner to probe the allegations; alumni suspect move to politicise issue.

March 26, 2023
The culture of silence and harassment that Kalakshetra allowed: Survivors speak out
- Kunal Shankar
Survivors and staff tell TNM that Kalakshetra enables a culture where sexually loaded comments and body shaming are par for course.

WEEK TWO - March 28 to April 3

March 28, 2023
An open letter to Mr.S Ramadorai, Chairman, Kalakshetra Foundation
- TM Krishna

March 28, 2023
Kalakshetra row: How leftist publications and intellectuals used an alleged case of sexual harassment to attack Hindu traditions
- Dibakar Dutta
The Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai has recently come under the scanner over sexual harassment allegations, with leftist intellectuals and publications exploiting the opportunity to target the Hindu tradition of 'guru-shishya parampara.'

March 29, 2023
Kalakshetra harassment row: NCW chairperson visits campus, enquires about allegations
- TNM Staff
Earlier, on March 25, the NCW had announced that it closed the investigation into the allegations after the survivor "denied sexual harassment" while she was inquired by Kalakshetra's Internal Committee.

March 29, 2023
Kalakshetra Foundation row: Can Chennai's famed dance academy weather sexual harassment storm?
- Rohini Swamy

March 29, 2023
Kalakshetra abuse controversy should force a rethink of power hierarchies in 'classical' dance world
- Nrithya Pillai
The story of modern bharatanatyam is not just about discourse or ideology. It is a battleground over the real control of bodies, representation and power.

March 30, 2023
Chennai's Kalakshetra temporarily shuts campus as protests escalate
- Sukanya Shaji
The protests, which began earlier on Thursday, March 30, erupted in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against four faculty members of Kalakshetra.

March 30, 2023
Kalakshetra 'sexual harassment' row: College closed till 6 April after students protest
- Shubhangi Misra
Students demand suspension of assistant professor and 3 other senior repertory dancers. After day-long protests, college instructs hostellers to vacate, postpones exams.

March 30, 2023
Chennai's Kalakshetra students protest, call for end to harassment in the campus
- Kunal Shankar
The students walked out of the morning prayer after the alleged harasser walked in. They then boycotted classes and exams in protest against the inaction of Kalakshetra authorities.

March 30, 2023
Kalakshetra shut down after students protest demanding action against teacher over sexual harassment
- Express News Service
The students sat in a silent protest from the morning under a banyan tree on the campus, demanding immediate suspension of the accused teacher.

March 30, 2023
The other side of the Kalakshetra Story: A JNU in the making?
- The Commune

March 31, 2023
Kalakshetra students go on indefinite stir, demand dismissal of 4 staff members
- Deepa H Ramakrishnan

March 31, 2023
Kalakshetra 'sexual harassment' row: Amid calls for their suspension, 4 dancers called back from Hyderabad event
- Rishika Sadam and Shubhangi Misra
The teachers, who were set to play key characters in a production of Valmiki's Ramayana in Hyderabad, were called back to Chennai after day-long protests by students.

March 31, 2023
Kalakshetra dance teacher Hari Padman booked for sexual harassment by Chennai police
- TNM Staff
Kalakshetra students who have been protesting on campus have temporarily called off the protest and thanked the media and law enforcement for their support.

April 1, 2023
Silence is also a crime
- Sumithra Prasad
College shut as sexual allegations shake the very foundation of Kalakshetra.

April 1, 2023
Kalakshetra sexual misconduct: Police unable to reach accused assistant professor Hari Padman
- Vinod Arulappan
According to the police, they have been trying to reach the staffer for a preliminary enquiry, but he was not available.

April 2, 2023
Kalakshetra row: TN cops sent to Kerala to record witness statements against Hari Padman
- TNM Staff
Hari Padman is one of the four faculty members who has been accused of sexual harassment at Kalakshetra Foundation's Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts in Chennai.

April 2, 2023
Kalakshetra: The other side and truth
- Sandhya Ravishankar
Sandhya on Twitter.

April 2, 2023
Kalakshetra case: Guru-sishya parampara silenced them for long
- Binita Jaiswal
Students alleged in fear of livelihood and in order to make a good career by finishing the course in time, many of the victims chose to accept the behaviour of the teachers and management.

April 3, 2023
The #MeToo uproar at the Kalakshetra
- TLDR
One of India's greatest cultural institutions has been rocked by a sexual harassment scandal - that involves 100 official complaints.

April 3, 2023
Kalakshetra protests: We must empower survivors to speak up
- T.M. Krishna
As a society, we must find a way to put aside religious, cultural and political differences on certain issues. Our strong opinions on these matters should not damage the lives of young girls and boys.

April 3, 2023
Kalakshetra sexual harassment accused Hari Padman arrested by Chennai police
- TNM Staff
Hari Padman was booked by the Adyar police on March 31 after a former student at Kalakshetra filed a complaint against him.

April 3, 2023
Kalakshetra row: SFI and other Left orgs protest in solidarity with students
- Bharathy Singaravel
Members of AIDWA, SFI and DYFI held a protest near the Kalakshetra Foundation's campus in Chennai, against the administration's alleged mishandling of sexual harassment complaints.

April 3, 2023
Male students accuse two Kalakshetra employees of molestation, sexual harassment
- Kunal Shankar
Speaking to TNM, a complainant said that repertory member Sanjit had groped him in the green room on multiple occasions. He had earlier blocked Sanjit on his phone after he sent sexually suggestive messages during the lockdown.

April 3, 2023
Kalakshetra sexual harassment accused Hari Padman sent to judicial custody
- TNM Staff
Hari Padman, who has been charged with sexual harassment and criminal intimidation based on a former student's complaint, was arrested by the Chennai police on April 3.

WEEK THREE - April 4 to 10

April 4, 2023
Kalakshetra alum says teacher 'rebuffed' him when told he faced sexual harassment by staffer
- Shubhangi Misra
Ex-student says dismissed Kalakshetra staffer 'stared at him with bad intentions' & sent inappropriate messages. He has written to TN women's panel detailing 'harassment'.

April 4, 2023
Kalakshetra's students sever communication with media
- Sruti MD
The students are unhappy with the manner in which the state women's commission is handling the sexual harassment case at Rukmini Devi College.

April 4, 2023
Stop harassing institution, teachers: Abhirami Venkatachalam on Kalakshetra row
- Online desk
Further, the Kalakshetra Foundation on Tuesday said it had constituted a Committee of Inquiry led by a retired judge to investigate the allegations.

April 4, 2023
Kalakshetra row: High Court advocate Ajeetha resigns from ICC
- DT Next Bureau
"I am quite disturbed by the recent happenings in your institution and the response of the administration to the issues," said advocate BS Ajeetha in her resignation letter sent to the Director, Kalakshetra Foundation.

April 4, 2023
Inquiry committee set up to probe Kalakshetra harassment; arrested faculty member suspended
- Binita Jaiswal
The board has also suspended Hari Padman, assistant professor, who has been arrested by police for sexual harassment charges with immediate effect.

April 5, 2023
Chinmayi Sripaada lashes out at Abhirami Venkatachalam for supporting Kalakshetra Foundation
- Entertainment Desk
Many called out Abhirami Venkatachalam on social media for being blindsided by privilege. Her statement about people who couldn't pronounce the name Kalakshetra is being termed as casteist.

April 6, 2023
Abhirami Venkatachalam opens up on Kalakshetra controversy, says students were manipulated by staff members
- Pramod Madhav
Abhirami Venkatachalam has defended Kalakshetra following sexual harassment allegations against teacher Hari Padman. The actress said that students were manipulated by staff members.

April 6, 2023
Kalakshetra ex-director Leela Samson recalls a sexual harassment charge during her tenure
- CtoI News Desk
In an interview with Connected to India, given just after the controversy made the first headline, former Kalakshetra Foundation director Leela Samson said that during her tenure, too, such an allegation had come up…

April 6, 2023
Kalakshetra row: Assistant professor's wife files counter complaint
- TNN
The wife of the arrested Kalakshetra assistant professor, Hari Padman, has now lodged a counter complaint against three people, including a woman complainant and two Kalakshetra teaching faculty members.

April 6, 2023
Kalakshetra director covered up a food poisoning outbreak in the middle of the pandemic
- Kunal Shankar
The embattled head of Kalakshetra Foundation Revathi Ramachandran made students write an apology letter for complaining about the food poisoning incident in November 2021, and shut the college down for the UG students immediately after.

April 6, 2023
‘Divinity’, power, cliques: Kalakshetra case spotlights all that’s wrong with the ‘classical’ arts world
- Swaroop Mami
Its insular nature protects those accused of abuse, and makes it almost impossible for victims to speak out.

April 7, 2023
Kalakshetra sexual harassment issue: Did the institute try to silence voices?
- The News Minute
This week on Let Me Explain, Anna Isaac looks at the allegations, how Kalakshetra responded and why students and staff are accusing the institution of trying to silence voices and shield the alleged abusers.

April 9, 2023
Even before Kalakshetra, abuse in classical arts world was open secret, says dancer Aranyani Bhargav
- TNN
Bharatanatyam dancer Aranyani Bhargav talks to Times of India about the history of Indian classical dance, and why the guru-shishya relationship needs to be re-examined.

April 9, 2023
Kalakshetra Controversy: Hari Padman denies any wrongdoing, blames ‘power play’ by other Profs
Hari Padman, who has been arrested by the Chennai police on allegations of sexual harassment has reportedly given his statement to the police denying the allegations.

April 10, 2023
Kalakshetra sexual harassment row: Institution failed to address ‘mistress’ rumours about intern
- Binita Jaiswal
The 24-year-old intern said her troubles began when a former director of Kalakshetra named her a "mistress" of Padman in a Facebook post last December.

April 10, 2023
Casteism, colourism, body shaming: How Kalakshetra’s culture lets harassment thrive
- TNM
TNM spoke to students, faculty, and alumni, who revealed a larger culture of abuse on campus along the lines of gender, body type, skin colour, and food habits.

April 10, 2023
Kalakshetra row: Protest held outside Chennai campus demanding judicial probe
- ANI

April 10, 2023
Kalakshetra Row and the #MeToo movement in Performing Arts
- K Krishna Priya
The ongoing Kalakshetra controversy took shape when the former director Leela Samson wrote on Facebook in December 2022 about how several students were still being subjected to sexual harassment by the ‘most influential person’ in the Rukmini College of Fine Arts who was misusing his position of authority.

WEEK FOUR - April 11 to 17

April 11, 2023
TN Women’s Commission recommends legal action against Kalakshetra management
- Bharathy Singaravel
The SWC put forward a list of recommendations based on the visit of its chairperson AS Kumari to the institution and on the complaints received by the Commission.

April 11, 2023
What happened at Kalakshetra should be an eye-opener
- Shoba Warrier
Such a struggle at Kalakshetra is unprecedented.

April 11, 2023
Kalakshetra row: 5-member team of SHRC begins probe
- DT Next Bureau
The SHRC had earlier ordered a suo-moto probe into the complaints of alleged sexual harassment in the institute and directed the inquiry committee to file a detailed report within six weeks.

April 12, 2023
Kalakshetra: Sex harassment claims shake top India dance academy
- Geeta Pandey and Pramila Krishnan
One of India's pre-eminent art and cultural institutions, Kalakshetra, has been embroiled in an ugly row over allegations of sexual harassment against a faculty member and three repertory artists who work as substitute teachers at the prestigious dance academy.

April 12, 2023
Kalakshetra sexual harassment case: Hari Padman’s bail petition dismissed
- TNM Staff
IX Metropolitan Magistrate S Mohanambal accepted the prosecution’s contention that the investigation in the issue was at its early stage, and dismissed Hari Padman’s bail application.

April 15, 2023
Kalakshetra's summer of discontent
- Deepa H Ramakrishnan
Charges of sexual harassment have threatened to upend the equilibrium at this prestigious haven of the fine arts. Deepa H. Ramakrishnan spoke to students, alumni and administrators to map the current crisis and the growing pressure for wider reform.

April 15, 2023
Kalakshetra row: Inquiry committee to set up online portal to register complaints
- TNM Staff
The independent inquiry committee to look into the sexual harassment complaints at Kalakshetra is headed by a retired judge Justice K Kannan, former Tamil Nadu DGP Letika Saran, and Dr Shobha Varthaman.

April 16, 2023
Seven students of Kalakshetra Foundation move Madras HC seeking a safe learning environment
- Mohamed Imranullah S.
Wanting to remain anonymous fearing hostility, they insist on reconstituting the ICC with student and parent representatives and submission of women’s commission report before the court.

April 17, 2023
Madras High Court calls for Tamil Nadu Women’s Commission inquiry report on Kalakshetra sexual harassment allegations
- Mohamed Imranullah S.
Justice M. Dhandapani directs the foundation to not allow a faculty member facing charges of sexual harassment from contacting students, a decision on reconstituting ICC to be taken on April 24.

April 17, 2023
Madras High Court says Internal Complaints Committee of Kalakshetra Foundation must be reconstituted to protect students
- Ayesha Arvind
Justice M Dhandapani also granted the interim prayer of the seven petitioner-students to remain anonymous.

WEEK FIVE - April 18 to 24

April 21, 2023
Nobody can tarnish the greatness of Kalakshetra forever
- Shobha Warrier
This setback is only transient, and I am sure this too shall pass.

April 22, 2023
Kalakshetra Controversy: Leela tells NCW she can’t appear as she is in Aus and has travel plans to Kochi & Delhi, found chilling in Mumbai
- The Commune

April 22, 2023
Independent panel looking into Kalakshetra sexual harassment allegations launches web portal for complaints
- Shubhangi Misra
The portal, which went live Saturday morning, allows Kalakshetra’s students to register complaints confidentially. Website says similar portal will be launched soon for teachers too.

April 24, 2023
Conflict of interest? Kalakshetra board member’s son representing accused Hari Padman in sexual harassment case
- Shubhangi Misra
Petitioner & intervening petitioner's counsel said accused Hari Padman represented by board member R. Natraj’s son, Nithyesh, & Vaibhav Venkatesh. Venkatesh also counsel for Kalakshetra.

April 24, 2023
Madras High Court questions Kalakshetra Foundation for not having framed a policy to prevent gender discrimination, sexual harassment
- The Hindu Bureau
Justice M. Dhandapani also wonders how the Internal Complaints Committee as well as Justice K. Kannan committee can function parallelly to probe into complaints of sexual harassment.

WEEK SIX - April 25 to May 1

April 25, 2023
Kalakshetra alumna alleges sexual assault by governing board member, writes to SWC
- Bharathy Singaravel
Of the two teachers accused, PT Narendran, who is also a governing board member, told TNM that he is unaware of such a complaint, while Mohanan said that the allegation against him is false.

April 25, 2023
Kalakshetra row: Madras HC to pass interim orders on 26th April
- Express News Service
As per UGC guidelines on internal complaints bodies in educational institutions, a representative of students shall also be included in the ICC, Vaigai stressed.

April 26, 2023
A post by PT Narendran

April 27, 2023
Constitute ICC, include parents and teachers: Madras High Court to Kalakshetra
- R Sivakumar
Making it clear that mere pendency of the writ petition would not tie the hands of the state police, the judge said they can go ahead with further proceedings as per law.

April 27, 2023
Rebuild panel, give details of its members: Madras HC to Kalakshetra
- Divya Chandrababu
The premium performing arts institution has been in the spotlight after students went on protests alleging sexual harassment by four teachers.

WEEK SEVEN, EIGHT - May 2 to 15

May 3, 2023
‘Exploited my vulnerability’ - trans dancer accuses Kalakshetra board member of abuse in complaint
- Shubhangi Misra
In a letter to Tamil Nadu women’s commission, the Bharatanatyam dancer has alleged that PT Narendran, now a Kalakshetra board member & teacher Mohanan sexually exploited her decades ago.

May 6, 2023
Kalakshetra case: Hari Padman withdraws bail plea at Madras High Court
- TNM Staff
The Tamil Nadu State Women’s Commission had opposed the bail on the grounds that it had received statements regarding sexual harassment at Kalakshetra from over 100 students.

May 11, 2023
Kalakshetra alumnae voice in support of dancer Hari Padman, call charges fabricated
- The Commune
A group of alumnae of Kalakshetra Foundation have come out in support of dancer and teacher Hari Padman, claiming that his conduct was good while they studied under him and that the case against him was fabricated.

May 14, 2023
Stop, rewind, reset: The Kalakshetra time clock
- Avanti Meduri

WEEK ELEVEN, TWELVE - May 30 to Jun 12

June 3, 2023
Kalakshetra Row: Hari Padman gets bail by default as police fail to file chargesheet
- The Commune
Hari Padman, the dance teacher who had become the target of Kalakshetra sexual harassment controversy has been granted bail by the court after the police failed to file chargesheet against him.

June 6, 2023
Kalakshetra sexual harassment case | Arrested faculty member, Hari Padman, granted bail
- Hindu Bureau
Police said Mr. Padman was granted bail on Saturday, June 3, 2023, by a local court in Chennai; he had been arrested in early April following a complaint from a former woman student of the Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts under Kalakshetra Foundation.

June 6, 2023
Kalakshetra faculty member Hari Padman who was arrested for sexual harassment gets bail
- Express News Service
Padman was arrested on April 3 by police following complaints of sexual harassment by students of the institute.

June 6, 2023
Kalakshetra sexual harassment case: Accused Hari Padman gets bail
- TNM Staff
Hari Padman, a senior dancer teacher at Kalakshetra Foundation's Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts, was arrested by the Adyar All Women Police Station on April 3 on various sexual harassment charges.

June 6, 2023
Kalakshetra Row: Hari Padman, dance teacher accused of sexual abuse, gets bail
- The Quint
Padman was arrested on 3 April based on a complaint of sexual harassment filed by a former student.

June 6, 2023
Kalakshetra row: Chennai court grants bail to Hari Padman
- DT Next Bureau
As the High Court adjourned the hearing of bail plea, the accused Padman had withdrawn it and again he filed a fresh bail petition in the Madras High Court.

June 6, 2023
Suspended dance professor of Kalakshetra Foundation gets bail in sexual harassment case
- PTI

June 7, 2023
Accused gets conditional bail in Kalakshetra case
- TNN

June 11, 2023
Out of step: Dance, caste and a pushback
- Sindu Deivanayagam, Apeksha Singegol
Being an Institution of National Importance, every Indian art form deserves a space in Kalakshetra. However, ideals of chastity, class, and caste have prevented the inclusion of growing art forms.

June 12, 2023
Madras High Court dismisses plea to assign Kalakshetra Foundation a 1.46 acres of a public pathway near its campus
- The Hindu Bureau
Judge accepts the stand of government officials that laying a pucca road on the pathway will make travelling easier for residents of Tiruvanmiyur Kuppam and make the area easily accessible for ambulances during medical emergencies

WEEK NINETEEN - July 25 to 31

July 28, 2023
Kalakshetra Issue: FIR names Leela Samson & 4 others for derogating a girl student as "Mistress"
- The Commune
The Kalakshetra issue has subsided but most media channels did not cover a very important part of the whole issue - The complaint against former Director Leela Samson.

WEEK TWENTY, TWENTY ONE - Aug 1 to 14

Aug 7, 2023
Kalakshetra inquiry panel calls Hari Padman a ‘delinquent’, submits its report
- Hindu Bureau
Inquiry committee submits its report that includes annexures

Aug 7, 2023
Panel submits report to Kalakshetra Foundation
- PTI
An independent committee of inquiry set up by the Kalakshetra Foundation to look into the allegations of sexual harassment on its campus on Monday said it has submitted its report to the foundation chairman S Ramadorai.

Aug 7, 2023
Kalakshetra row: Probe finds teacher Hari Padman guilty of misconduct
- Bharathy Singaravel
A member of the inquiry committee confirmed to TNM that Hari Padman, the main accused, has been found guilty of suspicious misconduct.

Aug 7, 2023
Kalakshetra row: Independent enquiry committee finds teacher Hari Padman guilty of misconduct
- Express News Service
Levelling allegations of sexual harassment on the campus, a section of students staged a protest in March this year seeking justice.

Aug 8, 2023
Kalakshetra Foundation case: Professor accused of misconduct a ‘delinquent employee’, says Report
- Divya Chandrababu
The Independent Enquiry Committee constituted by the Kalakshetra Foundation to probe into allegations of sexual misconduct on campus, has recommended “major punishment” for the main accused, senior faculty Hari Padman.

WEEK TWENTY THREE - Aug 22 to 28
August 23, 2023
'Targeted for protesting sexual abuse' - Kalakshetra students question deferment of PG courses
- Shubhangi Misra
Faculty member says move to defer admissions for postgraduate diploma courses amounts to 'unfair treatment' of students who led protests against sexual harassment on campus.

WEEK TWENTY EIGHT - Sep 26 to Oct 2

Sept 26, 2023
Exclusive: Kalakshetra probe recommends police cases against 3 teachers
TNM (The News Minute) has seen the operative part of the report which also says that the statements of Kalakshetra’s ex-director Leela Samson cannot easily be discarded and that faculty Hari Padman was guilty of misconduct.
- Sukanya Shaji