On October 22, the campus of Jamia Millia Islamia was decorated with colourful rangolis and lit with countless diyas as part of Deepawali celebrations before students headed home for the holidays. Organised by student groups and Rashtriya Kala Manch, the event, titled ‘Jyotirmaya 2024’, was intended to be a cultural gathering featuring music, a rangoli competition, and the lighting of thousands of diyas. However, the festive atmosphere was shattered when Muslim students opposed the celebrations, leading to protests and the raising of Islamic slogans.
According to the information collected by Organiser, the peaceful event was disrupted when these students protested the Deepawali festivities, raising slogans like “Nara-e-Taqbeer” and, to the shock of attendees, chants of “Palestine Zindabad” in support of Palestine. As tensions escalated, the sloganeering became more intense, drawing attention to political issues far removed from the festive occasion. What began as a celebration of light and unity turned into a scene of division as these students voiced opposition, linking their protest to broader geopolitical issues.
Allahu Akbar from Jamia Millia Islamia:
Hindu students on campus organised a Pre-Deepavali celebration, ‘Jyotirgamaya 2024,’ which was met with slogans like “Palestine Zindabad” and “Allahu Akbar”
A Centrally funded institute for us: pic.twitter.com/TvtxX5E1Ng
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) October 22, 2024
Islamists quickly took to social media, claiming that tensions flared on the campus, leading to clashes between Hindus and Muslims, supposedly sparked when Hindus began chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram.’ This reaction comes as if chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ during a festival that celebrates Bhagwan Ram’s return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile is somehow blasphemous.
This is not the first time that Jamia Millia Islamia has witnessed opposition to Hindu festivals. In March 2023, students reportedly disrupted the celebration of Holi on campus. The event, named ‘Rangotsav’ and organised by the university students, was meant to mark the Hindu festival, but it quickly turned into a scene of unrest as students opposed the festivities.
Referring to the event’s poster inviting students to ‘Ragotsav,’ a student wrote on X, “Sahih Hadiths suggest that it is not allowed to participate in the festivals of disbelievers. When Hindus in India are oppressing Muslims and burning them alive just because they eat beef, still you’d want to “celebrate” it with them?”
Pro-Palestinian sentiments on the campus are also not new. In October 2023, reports emerged of a student group at Jamia wearing badges supporting ‘Hamas’, a group designated as a terrorist organisation by several nations. During this time, students rallied for International Solidarity Day with Palestine, using hashtags like #FreePalestine and #DownWithIsrael, further highlighting the politically charged atmosphere that has occasionally overshadowed student activities at the university.
Celebrating Hindu festivals is considered Haram in Islam, and for years, Islamists have actively opposed these celebrations, often resorting to violence. From religious processions for Hanuman Jayanti, Ram Navami, and Navratri, to Saraswati Puja, Islamist groups have frequently incited unrest. Incidents of stone-pelting, arson, and vandalism during these festivals are well-documented each year. What is particularly alarming is the increasing frequency and intensity of these attacks on Hindus, with each passing year witnessing a rise in both numbers and aggression. The disturbing irony is that this hostility is no longer confined to the streets; it has now infiltrated our campuses, educational institutions, and premier spaces where such extremism was once unthinkable.
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