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Maharashtra Professor Beaten Up, Arrested for Asking Why Shivaji's Birthday Is Celebrated Twice KC Archana

We all know that Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian constitution enshrines the right to freedom of speech and expression to all citizen. But in reality, this right doesn't seem to hold too much value in our country.

In a shocking incident, a 38-year-old professor from Khopoli, Maharashtra has been arrested after he questioned as to why is Chhatrapati Shivaji’s birthday celebrated twice a year. PTI/Picture for representation

It all started with a mere WhatsApp message, where professor Sunil Waghmare, the head of the department of commerce at the KMC college in Raigad, questioned the logic behind celebrating birthday twice in a year.

The WhatsApp group consisted of Waghmare's fellow college professors and other staff. The group admin Amol Nagargoje, scolded Waghmare's 'blasphemous' question, following which he deleted the group altogether.

Shivaji’s exact date-of-birth is not known and it is celebrated twice a year, in February and March. Picture for representation

News about the heated WhatsApp argument spread through the college and the next day, Waghmare was beaten up by students and teachers at the college and the police had to intervene to protect him.

The Maratha Swarajya Samajik Sanstha president Sagar More too lodged a complaint with the Khopoli police against Waghmare.

Khopoli assistant inspector Ashok Thakur said, "After the post was circulated, tension escalated on college premises. We deployed police teams in the college to maintain law and order. Those who tried to stage protests were dispersed." 
Amol Nagargoje, went on to register a case  against Waghmare under Section 295a (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious  beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code

"He is senior faculty and I know him since 2012. That night on WhatsApp, when he made the comment, I asked him to take back his words but he refused. So, I decided to delete the group altogether. On Friday, when I was in the staff room, I got to know that he was attacked," the Mid-Day quoted Nagargoje as saying.


The police who are now probing the case seized Waghmare and Nagargoje’s phones. The professor remains in judicial custody and his bail application was rejected owing to threat to his life outside jail.

