Kasaragod: A controversy erupted at the Kerala Central University’s arts festival “Cankama” after the university union blocked the traditional lamp-lighting ceremony at the inaugural event. Though a ceremonial lamp was set up in advance at the venue, due to the opposition from students’ union, it was not lit.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Siddu P. Algur was expected to inaugurate the festival by lighting the lamp as per tradition. But, to the surprise of audience, he succumbed to the pressure from student groups, including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and other radical groups, and skipped the lamp lighting ceremony, a customary part of inaugurations in Kerala.
Despite student organisation Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) demanding that the festival be formally inaugurated by lighting the lamp, the Vice-Chancellor went ahead with the event without performing the ritual.
This incident follows earlier controversies at the university which happened around six months ago. During an IT/EP welcome party, newly joined students were forced to appear in Arab attire. The outfit, worn in a way that even extremist groups would hesitate to adopt, drew criticism for promoting religious extremist on the campus and being culturally insensitive.
Last year, during the arts festival, cut-outs depicting Bharat Mata in a nude form were also reportedly displayed by these groups, adding to a growing list of ideological clashes on campus.
