Issues of belief should be handled with tact

Osmania University, one of oldest institutions of higher learning in the country, is on the boil. Nearly, two dozen organizations have come together to hold the beef festival, a repetition of what they had done in 2012.
The 2012 beef festival at Osmania University was followed by similar events in English and Foreign Languages University and University of Hyderabad.All these events were not hassle-free. They were opposed, but the organisers were able to push through their plans. But this time around, political disposition at the state as well as Centre is different. Some student unions, political parties and individuals have decided to oppose the festival with force.
Among the vocal opponents is Raja Singh, BJP MLA from Goshamahal. He has threatened that if the festival is held, Dadri would be repeated here. He is also planning a march to Osmania University on December 10.
In the meantime, the university as well as city police have denied permission for beef or any other contentious festival. In response to the denial of permission, the proponents of the festival have become more defiant. They are claiming that they will hold the event come what may.
Eating beef was politicised in India long time ago. It has been successfully projected as a major point of dispute between Hindus and Muslims, though it is not entirely true. The dalits and the scheduled castes that singularly and together outnumber Muslims and Christians by substantial numbers have been eating beef since time immemorial. But they are not targeted over their eating practices for obvious reasons.
In the meantime, the forces that are against the practice of eating beef have become more strident and event violent. Incidents of killing people over rumours of eating beef or smuggling cattle in North India and attack on a member of the legislative assembly in Kashmir since October have emboldened opponents of the beef eating culture. At the same time, the increase in intolerance to certain eating practices has strengthened the feelings of resentment and defiance among those who have beef on their menu.
Insisting on eating beef and making it public is a display of assertion of cultural identities. Some also claim that it is a struggle between Aryan and Dravidian cultures. In this clash of cultures, a solution has been found by the opponents of beef eaters. They have taken the issue out from Aryan-Dravidian context and projected it as a major problem area exclusively related to the minorities—especially the Muslims and Christians. It is being said that the minorities have no respect for the ‘age-old beliefs and practices’ of the Hindus.
One could argue that since TRS has greater following among the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes it would not come in the way of the beef festival fearing that the move could lead to erosion in its vote base among these sections. But that does not seem to be the case. There is a counter argument. For the TRS, not displeasing the BJP-ruled central government is more important. If BJP turns unhappy with the TRS there could emerge problems for the government and its functionaries in Telangana. Hence, the Telangana government’s tough stand to scuttle the festival.
There could be yet another reason for the TRS government for stalling the event. One could argue that since TRS has greater following among the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes it would not come in the way of the beef festival fea ring that the move could lead to erosion in its vote base among these sections. But that does not seem to be the case. There is a counter argument. For the TRS, not displeasing the BJP-ruled central government is more important. If BJP turns unhappy with the TRS there could emerge problems for the government and its functionaries in Telangana. Hence, the Telangana government's tough stand to scuttle the festival.
There could be yet another reason for the TRS government for stalling the event. Some sections of students have decided to hold a pork festival alongside the beef festival. There are also reports that tribal students, especially Lambada, are also planning to host their own Bati Sulai festival.Bati meaning roti (bread) and sulai is a mutton dish cooked in water and goat or sheep blood. The objective behind these two festivals appears to be to dilute the attention the beef festival gets. Also, it would polarise students on different lines. There is another apprehension that holding three festivals could result in clashes among student groups.
But those behind organising the beef festival say that they are not opposed to pork or Bati Sulai events as they too symbolically represent cultural identity of the marginalised sections of society. “Over 90% of the nearly 12,000 students on the campus belong to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, backward castes and some minorities. Why should the Osmania University or government authorities come in the way of their celebrations?“ asked a stu dent leader on the condi tion of anonymity.
It is a fact that the Dalits and Tribal students are declaring that their cultural and even religious identities are different and they should be respected. Against this backdrop one should also look at the Narakasura and Mahishasura events being observed during Dasara and Diwali on the university campuses in Osmania, UoH and EFLU. The deification of Naraka and Mahisha as against Rama and Krishna has the potential to become volatile and violent.
Meanwhile, there prevails an atmosphere of apprehension and fear on the OU campus. Issues related to beliefs should be handled with tact, not by force. Hope the authorities understand this.