Around a dozen students in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Wednesday, 27 April, staged a protest, sloganeered, and burnt an effigy of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) vice chancellor outside his residence after an Iftar party was organised in the Women's College inside the campus.
A video of the demonstration captured the students holding the burning effigy, and chanting 'BHU mein iftaari nahi chalegi. Vice chancellor murdabaad' (There will be no Iftaari in BHU, down with the vice chancellor).
Responding to the denunciation, the chief proctor of the university, VC Kapri, stressed that the event was organised to promote Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb.
What Happened
On Wednesday evening, the Mahila Mahavidyalaya (MMV) in BHU organised an Iftar party, where Vice Chancellor Professor Sudhir Kumar Jain was also present.
The fasting teachers and students of the Women's College broke their Ramzan fast and had Iftar at the event attended by top university officials.
What the Protesting Students Say
One of the protesting students, Aashirwad Dubey, denounced the party, saying that such a move was condemnable while a uniform civil code is being discussed in the country.
"While uniform civil code is being discussed in the country, Iftar party was organised in BHU in a complete departure from the normal tradition. This is condemnable and we are against it," he stated.
Meanwhile, another student who identified himself as Shubham claimed, "I have been in the university for the past 5 years and never heard about Iftar being organised in the campus. It was organised claiming that this is traditionally done every year but that's not true."
The aggravated students added that alleged that if the vice chancellor wants to attend Iftar, he should "go to Aligarh Muslim University or Jamia Millia Islamia."
Chief Proctor's Statement
The chief proctor of the university, VC Kapri, underlined that BHU is the largest university in the country, where students and teachers of different religions are in attendance, and asserted that such programmes will be organised in the future too.
"We do not have any kind of pain or sorrow. Rather, our university, its teaching and non-teaching staff will always work to take it forward," the official asserted.
Meanwhile, as per the statement, the process of identifying the protesting students is underway, and a reply will be sought. A decision can be taken only after a reply is received, the official said.
BHU Issues Official Statement
Meanwhile, the Banaras Hindu University issued an official statement on Thursday, saying that the attempts to disturb the peace and academic atmosphere of BHU are "unacceptable and condemnable."
"Banaras Hindu University is an inclusive space which is globally renowned for its teaching, research and innovation. Students from all around the world come to BHU and study in an all-inclusive atmosphere in the varsity, where one finds no scope for any form of discrimination on any basis. The university follows Mahamana's (Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya) idea of inclusivity and embracing all, and his values and principles are at the core of BHU's functioning as an institution," the statement read.
"A number of festivals are organized and celebrated in the university, with members of the BHU fraternity participating with mutual love, respect and harmony. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sudhir K Jain had attended the iftar organized in Mahila Mahavidyalaya on 27.04.2022, on the invitation of students and faculty members of MMV. Several other senior officials of the university were also present."
"Iftar could not be organized for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tradition of organizing iftar in BHU dates back more than two decades. These iftars were attended by subsequent Vice-Chancellors over the years in the capacity of head of the BHU fraternity and as per their availability on the campus. Attempts to disturb the peace and academic atmosphere of Banaras Hindu University are unacceptable and condemnable," the statement added.
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