Mangaluru: The educational institutions in the undivided coastal districts that witnessed hijab row, clashes over the installation of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s photograph, among other communal issues on their campuses pray that the new government keeps such issues off the campuses or deals with them swiftly.
With the state assembly election results announced on Saturday, the college managements, especially the government institutions, stress that they can very well handle any such situation on their own, sans political interference and the instigation of student fraternities. The institutions also expect better management of the education sector without any controversies over textbooks and other things.
“Hijab, Savarkar, and saffron shawl issues reportedly portrayed our campuses and the city negatively. It kept us on tenterhooks and stopped us from doing our main duty—teaching. It also created hatred among young minds, which is still prevalent. Tension prevailed on the campus when Hijab row erupted. We hope that things improve with the new government in the state,” expressed a senior professor from University College, Hampankatta.
We are capable of resolving issues internally: Mgmts
Another faculty member of a government PU college in Udupi, which was the epicentre of Hijab controversy last year, said: “Any kind of appeasement and government interference in education institutions or sectors sets a bad example and leads to chaos. It happened here and it would not have gotten out of hand if the colleges concerned were given free rein to tackle it. The college managements in the past have dealt with several such issues on their own and they have the capability to do so in the days to come. Do not bring politics inside the campus.”
“It was a difficult phase when hijab and related controversies were raging on our college campuses. We had no control over it for various reasons. With the new government, we hope that the purpose of the education sector is served well by keeping all such bad elements at bay,” expressed an official, who holds a senior post at Mangalore University.
“The educational institutions should be testing labs for research, development, debates, and academics. It should uphold the Constitution of India,” commented a government college principal.
Gousiya, a BSc student who quit the University College, Hampankatta, and is continuing her studies at a private college, said that a lot of girls from the minority community in Dakshina Kannada and other parts of Karnataka dropped out of college following the hijab controversy. “My only request is that all those students be allowed to complete their studies by ensuring necessary arrangements.”…
This story was originally published in timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Read the full story here