Mangalore: Row over Vivekananda Jayanthi in University College, Students Protest

Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore

Mangalore, Feb 2: Huge number of students of University College (former Government College) stayed out of their classes on Thursday February 2, after they were denied permission to celebrate ‘Vivekananda Jayanti’, as promised earlier by the college authorities.

According to the students, the principal of the college had readily agreed earlier to organize Vivekananda Jayanti as well as Jago Bharat events in the college premises on February 6. But later following his meeting with the discipline committee of the college he announced that he would not permit for the Jago Bharat programme at any cost but the Vivekananda Jayanti would take place as decided on February 6.

The students association agreed with the principal’s decision and accordingly arranged Chakravarti Soolibele as resource person on Vivekananda Jayanti. But yet again the principal called for the meeting and cancelled the Vivekananda Jayanti celebration too much to the disappointment of the students. “It is a insult to inform the resource person not to come as the programme is now cancelled”, lament the students.

Placing their various demands at the protest, the students said that Vivekananda Jayanti should be observed in the college with Chakravarti Soolibele as resource person. They also demanded for an explanation from the principal for denying permission and creating chaos. The angry students threatened to carry on the indefinite strike if their demands were not met.

Principal Denies Allegations

Responding to the issue principal of the college Laxminarayan Bhat said that allegations made by the students were not true. He never denied permission to celebrate Vivekananda Jayanti and it would take place just like it was conducted last year. He did not permit for the  'Jaago Bharat' programme in the campus as he feels it would lead to disharmony or communal violence among students.