42 days of SRFTI protest; classes suspended till December 11

KOLKATA The agitation at the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI) continued for 42 days as class suspension was extended till December 11, affecting academic life. Students of the film institute on Saturday (November 7, 2026) said that “This Diwali we choose to resist”, while authorities said they were “keen" to resume classes. “Diwali has always been a special occasion at SRFTI...

But this year, the familiar celebrations are overshadowed by fear, uncertainty and an ongoing struggle for justice,” an official post by the SRFTI student union said on Saturday (November 7, 2026), a day before Deepavali. They also said that the day they are served justice will be Deepavali for them. “While the faculty and administration are ready to resume classes, a section of students continues to remain disengaged from academics and disrupt the functioning of the Institute through repeated violations of its rules and orders,” Registrar Deepak Kumar told The Hindu on Saturday (November 7, 2026).

He further added that they are asking students to come forward for constructive dialogue.