The Hindu : JNU students protest `cultural policing'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 20, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

JNU students protest `cultural policing'

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 19. Protesting against the "authoritarian attitude'' of Jawaharlal Nehru University administration regarding the celebration of hostel nights, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union held a demonstration on the campus here today. While the final decision on the issue is yet to be taken, Sabarmati Hostel's cultural night celebration planned for Thursday evening has been given the green signal.

"This is like cultural policing. How can they tell us that we can't celebrate in a particular manner? Students in this campus will decide on their own form of celebrations and cultural expressions and no attempts to interfere in this right will be tolerated. This is a very authoritarian attitude,'' said president, JNUSU, Rohit, amid strong sloganeering.

Earlier, JNU administration had declared its unwillingness to spend University funds for hostel nights, regarded by students as a part of JNU's tradition. While most of the funds come through selling coupons, a certain sum is also sanctioned from the Vice-Chancellor's office for the celebrations. According to sources, the Vice-Chancellor, G.K. Chadha, had refused to release these funds for the hostel nights on the grounds that they would rather spend the money on welfare activities.

"The Vice-Chancellor has said that these expenditures are wasteful. But he himself has spent lakhs in renovating his office, extending his bungalow and in building a huge gate for the University,'' alleged a student.

To place their demands, a delegation of students met the Prof. Chadha later in the evening. While the administration was unavailable for comment, students expressed that the tenor of the meeting had been positive.

"They have told us that the Sabarmati Cultural Night can be held and that the money will be managed somehow. But they also said that the final decision will only be taken after a meeting with the University's Cultural Committee has been held,'' said Rohit.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi