Jamia mela: Time for festivity, dispelling encounter shadow

Away from the chatter and celebrations on the lawns of Ansari auditorium at the Jamia Millia Islamia annual convocation and the Talimi Mela...

Away from the chatter and celebrations on the lawns of Ansari auditorium at the Jamia Millia Islamia annual convocation and the Talimi Mela, students Zaina Ansari and Nishi Rashid sat in a corner. They were hesitant to be part of the festivities. To both, the seven-day celebrations on the occasion were going a little overboard especially in the wake of the encounters. It was almost like forgetting the encounter and all that followed, they said.

This is the first time the university has extended celebrations that include lectures, performances and skits, for almost a week. Previously, it used to be for four or five days, Ansari said.

8220;There should be no function on this scale, especially after the encounter,8221; she said. 8220;Everyone has forgotten L-18. Issues are forgotten. I don8217;t want to forget it.8221;

Days after the Batla House encounter where a police officer was killed along with two terror suspects who were Jamia students, scars remain.

After the encounter, students from the university were picked up by the police for questioning. Jamia locals had alleged there were sporadic illegimate arrests. Then there were rallies and protests demanding a fair probe.

The theme of the mela was communal harmony, non-violence and secularism, emphasising that the university has always maintained secular credentials, Dr Rehman Musawwir, lecturer in the Hindi department at the university, said. 8220;We are all Indians and this is a beautiful mosaic,8221; he said.

8220;We want to give a positive image. We are custodians of Jamia8217;s secular culture. But the subject of the encounter featured in discussions and speeches. On the opening day, Vice-Chancellor Mushirul Hasan defended the university8217;s character and wondered why it needed to go the extra mile in proving they were committed to peace. But dire situations demanded drastic steps, he said.

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Posters with quotes from Munshi Premchand stressing the need to stand united were placed at the entrance. A quote from Dr Zakir Hussain summed the mood. It said that for Indian Muslims, India is as dear as to any other member of any other community. And they are proud to be part of the Indian society but it is unacceptable if their identity is questioned and threatened.

8220;For how long will we need prove ourselves?8221; another teacher Syed Masroor asked. 8220;We never think like a minority. Being an Indian has always come first.8221;

Salman Faisal, a student at Jamia, attended the event with friends. To him, the encounter was of critical importance, but it should not cast a shadow on celebrations.

8220;We can8217;t give up celebrations. We will fight for our rights, but why mar the festive spirit?8221; he asked.