A stand-up comedy show by comedian Rajat Sood at Ahmedabad’s Nirma University turned tense on Wednesday after a professor called a student onto the stage mid-performance and grabbed him by the collar, in a confrontation that was caught on video and quickly went viral across social media.
What Happened
The incident took place during Technophora 2026, a three-day event organised by students of the university’s Institute of Technology from September 18 to 20. According to the viral video, Professor H.K. Patel, identified as head of the Electronics and Instrumentation department, was addressing the audience alongside Rajat Sood when a student in the crowd shouted out a line from the film Golmaal 3: “Jaldi kar, Panvel nikalna hai.” Patel responded, “Toh nikal le bhai,” before calling the student up on stage and asking him, “Kya problem hai?” Moments later, he grabbed the student by the collar in front of the packed auditorium.
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Professor’s Warning
In the video, Patel is heard warning the student and the audience more broadly, saying, “The day you dare to insult any faculty member of the Nirma University campus, you are gone forever.” Reports say Patel later described the confrontation as an internal university matter when contacted by a student body representative.
NSUI Demands Apology And Inquiry
The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) has strongly condemned the professor’s conduct, with state vice president Vedant Tomar saying the professor must apologise to the student and that the university should conduct an impartial inquiry. NSUI national coordinator Bhavik Solanki echoed the demand, alleging the student was subjected to inappropriate behaviour, and warned the organisation would hold a protest if its demands were not met.
The video has triggered a wave of reactions on social media, with many users criticising the professor for resorting to physical aggression over what they described as a harmless joke.