HEC bans Holi celebration

Development comes days after QAU held ‘biggest Holi celebration in Pakistan’

ISLAMABAD:

Days after the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Islamabad founds itself in the middle of a social media controversy after pictures and videos from their Holi celebration [a popular and significant Hindu festival celebrated as the Festival of Colours, Love and Spring] went viral, the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) Wednesday took notice of the incident.

The education regulator while issuing a letter to the vice-chancellors across the country directed all the universities to keep a ‘distance’ from celebrating the Hindu festival 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 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 QAU students celebrated Holi on June 13 at around 4pm.

The event, touted as the "biggest Holi celebration in Pakistan," drew both praise and criticism from various quarters.

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 fervour 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.