Seminar marks song's anniversary

Central University of Kerala is hosting a two-day national seminar on Tuesday October sixth and Wednesday October seventh to mark the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram.

Student groups object to speakers

The Students' Federation of India, National Students' Union of India and Muslim Students' Federation have raised strong objections to the participation of J. Nandakumar, national convenor of Prajna Pravah, as keynote speaker.

Concerns about co-organisers

The Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad's role as co-organiser has emerged as a main point of contention. The Muslim Students' Federation describes both organisations as ideologically associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

SFI warns of ideological imposition

The SFI objected to attempts to impose religious symbols or a particular ideological position on the university community through the complete rendition of Vande Mataram at a secular institution.

SFI president defends pluralism

SFI unit president Nivathi Thara A.L. said constitutional secularism, pluralism and equality must be protected at a university where students from different religious, social and cultural backgrounds study.

“constitutional secularism, pluralism and equality must be protected at a university where students from different religious, social and cultural backgrounds study”

NSUI plans democratic protest

The National Students' Union of India has alleged the programme is part of an attempt to saffronise the Central University of Kerala and announced it will organise a democratic protest on campus against it.