Mangaluru
The college students under the aegis of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested inside and outside the campus of University College, Hampankatta, against Shamsul Islam, former associate professor of political science at the University of Delhi. He delivered the BV Kakkilaya Inspired Oration 2023, titled Joint Martyrdoms, Joint Heritage of 1857 War of Independence. Before the commencement of the oration, a large number of students from University College and from other colleges staged a flash protest, raising slogans such as Go Back Shamshul, Don’t impose Leftist ideology in campus and Save UCM. A significant police force was deployed across the campus as students protested. While students protested with sloganeering, the programme was held inside Ravindra Kalabhavan as scheduled. Some of the students from other colleges who protested were detained by Police.
Protesting students said that Kakkilaya orations have been controversial since 2018, with controversial statements related to Sabarimala. Islam had been critical of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Veer Savarkar. Interestingly, the protesting students were not aware of the identity of Samshul Islam. When retired Professor of history Kesavan Veluthat from Mangalore University arrived at the venue to attend the oration, the protesters tried to gherao him, mistaking him for Islam. However, programme organisers quickly escorted him to the programme venue.
