Kerala University has changed the logo and name of the Youth Festival. Kerala VC Dr Mohanan Kunnu Mel had directed the Registrar, Director of Student Services and University Union Chairman to remove the word ‘Intifada’ from the logo, which is reminiscent of the Palestine-Israel conflict. The order also directed that the festival should be called the Kerala University Youth Festival only. The name ‘Intifada’ should be removed from banners, posters and social media related to the Youth Festival.
The VC’s intervention came in the context of complaints and petitions in the High Court regarding the name of the youth festival.
It was decided to organize the art festival under the name ‘Intifada’ with the theme of art defense against invasions. A complaint was made to the VC pointing out that this is a word used by Hamas to attack Israel. The complaint also demanded that the word used by terrorist organizations should be avoided as the name of the festival.
When the registrar asked for the report of the Director of Student Services as per the instructions of the VC, the Director of Student Services Dr. Siddique replied that the word only means ’emerging resistance’ and the university does not interfere with the name and theme used creatively by the University Union. The VC ordered to withdraw the logo after the explanation of the Registrar and Director of Student Services was handed over to the VC.
The University Union is fully controlled by SFI. Although the youth festival is run by the union, the university bears the cost of lakhs for the festival. The logo release was done by CPM Thiruvananthapuram district secretary to the registrar. Contrary to the custom, the official function of the logo release was organized in the organization hall of pro-CPM employees.
Samasta Youth Leader Sattar Pantallur against the Vice Chancellor’s ban on using the name Intifada for the Kerala University Arts Festival. He wrote in a Facebook post that some people are allergic to hearing certain names. From Allahabad to Hyderabad, it is such people who are changing their names.
He clarified that ‘Munsif’, Court, Vakil and Badal are all words that we have adopted from Arabic.
Ours is the land of those who once asked what is in a name. Now everything is named. Some people are allergic to certain names. From Allahabad to Hyderabad, it is such people who are changing their names.
When the lions in the zoo were named Akbar-Sita, they were also intoxicated. Now some people in Kerala have also caught that fish. They have been angered by the name ‘Intifada’ for the art festival of Kerala University. It means to shake, shake. Just like Inquilab, Intifada is Arabic.
What society on earth does not borrow words from other languages? no one. ‘Munsif’ Court, Vakil and Badal are all words that we have adopted from Arabic. Are there Hindi songs that do not borrow Arabic-Urdu – Hindustani words? no But who to tell. Arabic also has words with good meanings. Yes, there is nothing wrong with acceptance, but these are all countermeasures to deliberately trying to create competition.
