Why has HEC banned Holi celebrations at Universities? According to a Higher Education Commission (HEC) directive, the Hindu holiday festival of Holi will not be celebrated on university campuses.
Why has HEC banned Holi celebrations at Universities?
The HEC advised all higher education institutions in a letter dated June 20 that they should “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 in addition to identifying, creating, and fostering avenues for extra-curricular activities and rational discourse.”
It is important to note that on June 13 at about 4 pm, students at Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) celebrated Holi.
To celebrate Holi, a significant Hindu festival known as the Festival of Colours, university students smeared vibrant colours and danced their hearts out to Bollywood songs.
Must read: Netizens react as students celebrate Holi at Quaid-i-Azam University
Videos circulating on the internet show students dancing to Indian songs and smearing colours on each other at the university.
The Mehran Students Council (MSC) organised the festival, which was attended by five other student councils, including the Punjab Students Council, Pashtoon Students Council, Siraiki Students Council, Baloch Students Council, and Gilgit Students Council.
Dr Shaista Sohail, executive director of the HEC, stated in a letter that it is regrettable to see actions that demonstrate a total disregard for our cultural values and a weakening of the nation’s Islamic identity. The zeal displayed in organising the Hindu holiday of Holi was one such incident that raised questions.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is a statutory body formed by the Government of Pakistan which was established in 2002 under the Chairmanship of Atta-ur-Rahman. Its main functions are funding, overseeing, regulating and accrediting the higher education institutions in the country.
