HEC bans celebration of Holi in universities

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has directed all the universities to keep a ‘distance’ from celebrating the Hindu festival of Holi on campuses.

In a letter dated June 20, which is available with The Express Tribune, addressed to all the higher education institutions, the HEC said: “The higher education institutions may prudently distance themselves from all such activities obviously incompatible with the country’s identity and societal values, while ensuring that they rigorously engage their students and faculty in academic pursuits, intellectual debates and cognitive learning besides identifying, creating and fostering avenues for extra-curricular activities and rational discourse.”

It is pertinent to mention here that the students of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) celebrated Holi on June 13 at around 4 pm.

The festival was organised by the Mehran Students Council (MSC) while five other students councils, including Punjab Students Council, Pashtoon Students Council, Siraiki Students Council, Baloch Students Council and Gilgit Student Council, participated in the festival that was organised by the parking area located between International Relations and Anthropology departments.

In the letter written by Dr Shaista Sohail, the executive director of the HEC, she said that: “Unfortunately, it is sad to witness activities that portray a complete disconnect from our sociocultural values and an erosion of the country’s Islamic identity. One such instance that has caused concern was the fervor exhibited in making the Hindu festival of Holi.”

“This widely reported/publicised event from the platform of a university has caused concern and has disadvantageously affected the country’s image,” the letter added.

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The students told The Express Tribune that the organisers of the festival approached the QAU administration to get approval for the event but were denied over the issue of arranging a separate event for the female students.

“The event was organised after office hours,” said Bisharat Ali, the general secretary of MSC.

Not only QAU students, but students from different universities in Islamabad also participated, bringing in the total number of participants to over 3,000.

“No one has objected to our event as yet,” Ali said. “It is not a new thing but we have been celebrating it for years to support our fellow Hindu students and friends,” he added.

Ali claims roughly 100 Hindu students from Sindh are enrolled in QAU.

It is pertinent to mention here that QAU was closed for about two and a half months after the clash between the two student councils.

“We wanted to unite all students and wanted everyone to forget bad memories. The colours of Holi help us to love everyone and hate only hatred,” Ali said.

Reaction on social media

The HEC management is being criticised on social media for banning the Holi festival in universities. “What a shame. HEC must apologise,” twitted Zulfiqar Halepoto.

“May I demand the resignation of her [Dr Shaista] as her order is against the fundamental rights of citizens,” commented Ejaz Ali.

Many social media activists have demanded authorities take action against the management of the HEC and take back the orders of the commission.

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Sindh journalist Veengas said that "Islamabad must understand that Holi/Diwali is part of the Sindhi culture —Islamabad neither accepts our Sindhi language nor does it honour the Hindu festivals."

Condemning HEC's decision to ban Holi, activist Ammar Ali Jan said that "HEC should be concerned about the dismal state of education in the country. Our universities are not even ranked in the top 1000."