‘Voice Of Devendra’ Contest At Pune University Faces Backlash, NSUI Calls It ‘Political Promotion’

The "Voice of Devendra" elocution competition, organised by Swarambh Foundation in Pune, has drawn sharp criticism from the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), which alleged that the event was aimed at promoting a political leader.

The topic of the competition was "Developed Maharashtra," but the NSUI claimed the title itself amounted to political promotion. The issue came to the fore after NCP-SP MLA Rohit Pawar objected to it on social media.

On Tuesday, NSUI activists held a protest outside the National Service Scheme (NSS) office at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU). The NSS had circulated a notice about the competition, but following the protest, those plans were dropped.

Balaji Misal, a student at SPPU, said, "The elocution competition could have been organised on the lives and contributions of Dr BR Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi or Savitribai Phule. But when a social organisation chooses to hold such a competition focusing on one particular individual and the university openly supports it, it is highly condemnable."

Akshay Kamble, Secretary, Maharashtra NSUI, said, "We condemn the university’s role in promoting the BJP’s agenda. The NSS is for social service, not political glorification, and naming a Maharashtra Development event ‘Voice of Devendra’ exposes the blatant partisanship. Academic spaces must remain neutral."

"The competition is based on the theme of Maharashtra’s development, yet it has been titled ‘Voice of Devendra.’ This clearly shifts the focus from the state’s progress to promoting an individual political leader, aligning with the BJP’s partisan agenda. Such branding undermines the neutrality expected in academic and student platforms. The social media platforms of Swarambh Foundation and 'Voice for Devendra' are completely politically driven, serving as tools to push the BJP’s agenda rather than fostering genuine academic or social engagement," said Siddhant Jambhulkar, a student.

NSUI leaders said such activities could harm the academic and neutral atmosphere of the university. They asserted that the organisation would continue to oppose any attempt to push a political agenda on campus.