Kannur University’s ‘Partition Horror Day’ directive sparks protests

Kannur University’s directive to college principals to submit action plans for seminars and cultural programmes on August 14 to mark ‘Partition Horror Day’ on the Governor’s instructions has drawn sharp criticism from teachers’ organisations and students. They alleged it was part of the Sangh Parivar agenda of “saffronising” campuses.

The Government College Teachers Organisation (GCTO), Kannur zonal committee, condemned the directive, calling it a politically motivated move.

GCTO zonal committee president P.S. Prakash said the circular issued on August 11 by the Directorate of Student Services on behalf of the varsity Registrar had instructed colleges to organise campus programmes on the eve of the Independence Day.

“The foundation of India’s independence is the selfless struggle of our great leaders, and ignoring this to promote politically driven stories will never be accepted by the academic community,” said varsity Senate member Mohammed Ashfas.

The Kannur University Senators’ Forum echoed similar views, saying that the move was part of a Sangh Parivar agenda and urged principals not to implement it.

Forum convener Shino P. Jose said that the academic community would not allow attempts to obscure the freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and the Indian National Congress.

The Democratic Youth Federation of India Kannur district committee organised a protest demonstration in Kannur against the Chancellor’s order. A copy of the order was burned as a mark of protest.