Freedom Struggle
Cover Story
Freedom Struggle
V-C promises rethink on ban on celebration of days on college campuses as students’ build up pressure
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, December 19, 2008 at 02:30:00 AM (Ahmedabad Mirror : Cover Story : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Cover%20Story§id=2&contentid=2008121920081219023000800b9ac01d9
Just a week after issuing a diktat to the Gujarat University-affiliated colleges to ban celebration of ‘days’ on their campuses, Vice-Chancellor Dr Parimal Trivedi was scorced to do a rethink on his decision following students’ protest on Thursday.Reacting to Ahmedabad Mirror’s cover story that highlighted students’ anguish at Dr Trivedi’s decision, which they called dictatorial (Parimal spoilsport Trivedi, December 18), more students across GU-affiliated colleges came forward under the banner of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and shouted slogans against the V-C’s decision, on the University campus.In a significant victory for the lovers of freedom on college campuses, Dr Trivedi agreed to accommodate most of the ‘days’ to be celebrated by students. He asked students to give him a list of ‘days’ they wish to celebrate on campuses.
Students from colleges across the city, under the banner of NSUI, protested vice-chancellor Dr Parimal Trivedi’s decision to ban celebration of days on campuses, on Thursday. Later in the day, they met the V-C, who promised to address the issue
However, Dr Trivedi is still not understanding the moot point of students’ protest. The entire fun of celebrating days in colleges lies in the spontaneity of students. Pre-deciding the days to celebrate is akin to killing that very unconstrained reactions, which are results of students’ creativity. And as long as students don’t transgress moral or legal lines, they should be given complete freedom to express themselves. Student representatives who met Dr Trivedi at 3.30 pm on Thursday to voice their protest over his decision told him exactly that. Said Nirav Baxi, in-charge, general secretary, NSUI (Gujarat), “The V-C has to understand that students’ creativity comes to the fore during days celebrations in colleges.”On their part, students were more than willing to be accommodative. They said the V-C’s ban on events like Tapori Day was perfectly justified, but he had no business banning Rose Day, Chocolate Day, Valentine’s Day, etc. And continuing with their protests against the V-C’s decision, students of H L Centre for Professional Education, who had celebrated Kiddies Day on Tuesday, went ahead with Back to School Day celebrations on Thursday.Also on Thursday, the H L Institute of Commerce conducted a fashion show as well. Recently, when a fashion show was organised in the B K Majumdar College of Business Administration (HL BBA college), an enraged Dr Trivedi had slapped the college with a Rs 50,000-penalty notice.Dr Trivedi agreed he was willing to accommodate students’ demands. He said, “I had never banned events like Tie and Saree Day, Traditional Day, Balloon Day or even Back To School Day. I continue to have a problem with Tapori Day, which I won’t allow on GU-affiliated college campuses. Also, I had received complaints of harassment during Chocolate Day celebrations. But I am talking to the students and we will collectively arrive at a solution soon.”V-C’S CONTROVERSIAL BAN On December 10, Dr Trivedi released a circular to all GU-affiliated colleges to ban celebration of various days on their campuses. Ordering the colleges to replace events like Rose Day, Tapori Day, Chocolate Day, Mix & Match Day, etc with National Leader Character Day, Anti Terrorist Day, Blood Donation Day, Thalassaemia Day, World Peace Day, World Environment Day and Nirmal Gujarat Day, Dr Trivedi said, “The aim of this circular is to ensure students engage themselves in activities which will inculcate the spirit of patriotism and unity in them.”Now, the students are in no mood to back down. Said Baxi, “If collegians are continued to get harassed, we will take appropriate action to protect our interests and rights. And whatever happens due to our ‘action’ will be a responsibility of the vice-chancellor and the state government.”
Freedom Struggle
V-C promises rethink on ban on celebration of days on college campuses as students’ build up pressure
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, December 19, 2008 at 02:30:00 AM (Ahmedabad Mirror : Cover Story : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Cover%20Story§id=2&contentid=2008121920081219023000800b9ac01d9
Just a week after issuing a diktat to the Gujarat University-affiliated colleges to ban celebration of ‘days’ on their campuses, Vice-Chancellor Dr Parimal Trivedi was scorced to do a rethink on his decision following students’ protest on Thursday.Reacting to Ahmedabad Mirror’s cover story that highlighted students’ anguish at Dr Trivedi’s decision, which they called dictatorial (Parimal spoilsport Trivedi, December 18), more students across GU-affiliated colleges came forward under the banner of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and shouted slogans against the V-C’s decision, on the University campus.In a significant victory for the lovers of freedom on college campuses, Dr Trivedi agreed to accommodate most of the ‘days’ to be celebrated by students. He asked students to give him a list of ‘days’ they wish to celebrate on campuses.
Students from colleges across the city, under the banner of NSUI, protested vice-chancellor Dr Parimal Trivedi’s decision to ban celebration of days on campuses, on Thursday. Later in the day, they met the V-C, who promised to address the issue
However, Dr Trivedi is still not understanding the moot point of students’ protest. The entire fun of celebrating days in colleges lies in the spontaneity of students. Pre-deciding the days to celebrate is akin to killing that very unconstrained reactions, which are results of students’ creativity. And as long as students don’t transgress moral or legal lines, they should be given complete freedom to express themselves. Student representatives who met Dr Trivedi at 3.30 pm on Thursday to voice their protest over his decision told him exactly that. Said Nirav Baxi, in-charge, general secretary, NSUI (Gujarat), “The V-C has to understand that students’ creativity comes to the fore during days celebrations in colleges.”On their part, students were more than willing to be accommodative. They said the V-C’s ban on events like Tapori Day was perfectly justified, but he had no business banning Rose Day, Chocolate Day, Valentine’s Day, etc. And continuing with their protests against the V-C’s decision, students of H L Centre for Professional Education, who had celebrated Kiddies Day on Tuesday, went ahead with Back to School Day celebrations on Thursday.Also on Thursday, the H L Institute of Commerce conducted a fashion show as well. Recently, when a fashion show was organised in the B K Majumdar College of Business Administration (HL BBA college), an enraged Dr Trivedi had slapped the college with a Rs 50,000-penalty notice.Dr Trivedi agreed he was willing to accommodate students’ demands. He said, “I had never banned events like Tie and Saree Day, Traditional Day, Balloon Day or even Back To School Day. I continue to have a problem with Tapori Day, which I won’t allow on GU-affiliated college campuses. Also, I had received complaints of harassment during Chocolate Day celebrations. But I am talking to the students and we will collectively arrive at a solution soon.”V-C’S CONTROVERSIAL BAN On December 10, Dr Trivedi released a circular to all GU-affiliated colleges to ban celebration of various days on their campuses. Ordering the colleges to replace events like Rose Day, Tapori Day, Chocolate Day, Mix & Match Day, etc with National Leader Character Day, Anti Terrorist Day, Blood Donation Day, Thalassaemia Day, World Peace Day, World Environment Day and Nirmal Gujarat Day, Dr Trivedi said, “The aim of this circular is to ensure students engage themselves in activities which will inculcate the spirit of patriotism and unity in them.”Now, the students are in no mood to back down. Said Baxi, “If collegians are continued to get harassed, we will take appropriate action to protect our interests and rights. And whatever happens due to our ‘action’ will be a responsibility of the vice-chancellor and the state government.”
