Osmania University students want beef in hostel mess

KS · 16-03-12, 03:04 AM

Osmania University students want beef in hostel mess - The Times of India

HYDERABAD: The politics of food is now breaking out on the 'T' struck Osmania University campus. Asserting their food culture, a large bunch of Dalit students have asked the administration to serve beef in their hostel mess. In a petition submitted to university's vice chancellor, S Satyanarayana, the students have stated that their food habits were ridiculed and insulted on the campus as members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) disrupted an attempt to cook beef in New Research Scholars' Hostel on March 11.

Challenging the 'casteist food culture', the students will also hold a beef festival in front of Osmania University (OU) Arts College in April. During the festival, cooked beef will be served and is being conducted as part of the birth anniversary celebrations of national leaders like B R Ambedakar (April 14), Jyotiba Phule (April 11) and Babu Jagjivan Ram (April 5), who were anti-caste ideologues. The university administration, though aware of the petition has not given permission to conduct such a festival.

The Dalit students form the second largest caste group with 2,000 members on OU campus. The campus which has a total student strength of 8,000 has about 4,000 OBC and 1,000 tribal students. "We decided to conduct such a public meeting as there have been several instances in the past where we were humiliated because of our food habits. Dalit PG students were rebuked and even roughed up by others when they cooked any non-vegetarian food in hostels during certain festival days," said Sudarshan, a research scholar enrolled in Arts College. Observers said that this is the second time that the Dalit students of OU have come together to assert their identity. In 2011, students had organised a unique Dasara celebration on campus, where Ravana, the mythical character symbolising Dalit identity, was glorified.

When asked whether the OU administration will give permission for beef festival, OU vice chancellor said that the matter is sensitive and hence a decision cannot be taken in haste. "We have asked some faculty members to talk to the students. We are trying to get things under control," said S Satyanarayana, vice chancellor, OU. He said that the issue came to his notice when some sections of the student community on campus complained about the same. "On March 11, I requested some senior teachers to get in touch with them and asked them to stop the exercise as this would create tension on campus," said Satyanarayana. Experts said the beef festival will face serious opposition on campus.

These idiots in OU indulge in everything except perhaps studying.

And do Dalits actually eat beef..? I have not seen them do so in TN...

lemontree · 16-03-12, 03:09 PM

By beef, do they mean buffalo?....because cow slaughter is banned in most of India (except Kashmir..they dont care).

Beef is a staple diet for a some dalits and adivasis, as it is cheaper than mutton.

pmaitra · 16-03-12, 03:10 PM

So they want beef and they are idiots? How did you conclude that?

nitesh · 16-03-12, 03:12 PM

What is this? Why it has to be servered in hostel, you can cook it yourself. What is the big deal. Making mountain of molehill

Yusuf · 16-03-12, 03:18 PM

Somewhere near on the highway, I am right now sitting in what looks to be a Muslim owned restaurant and it's a "shudh shakahari" restaurant probably respecting the sentiments in this area.

mayfair · 16-03-12, 03:52 PM

If they want beef, then go buy and cook it yourself in your hostel rooms (if cooking in hostel rooms is permitted under University norms). Why this tantrum insisting that beef be served in a communal dining hall?

Chan Lankela · 16-03-12, 04:04 PM

If this is allowed, you will have half the state rioting, if it isn't you'll have NGO's screaming about lack of free speach or rights for disadvantaged communities.

Tolaha · 16-03-12, 04:15 PM

Of all the points mentioned in the article, this one caught my eye:

Ravan, a dalit!!!

What does it say about the quality of the leadership of this particular group?

Iamanidiot · 16-03-12, 04:17 PM

Buffalo is great to eat nice marbelling and excellent taste barring one's smelly armpits I really like a kalyani biryani

Iamanidiot · 16-03-12, 04:17 PM

Periyar's ideology

Tolaha · 16-03-12, 04:19 PM

Not aware of Periyar's ideology. But Ravan was a brahmin right?

Iamanidiot · 16-03-12, 04:20 PM

Yes he is but then again Periyar symbolised him as a wronged native kiing killed by a foreigner.Hmm The TDP already started countering Telangana using Periyar

lemontree · 16-03-12, 04:27 PM

OT but, there is another theory about Ravan.
That he was as great worshiper of lord Vishnu and he was granted immortality by Vinshu as a reward for his devoltion.
He could only die at the hands of Vishnu or his incarnation, hence he kidnapped Sita to attain mosksha by die by the hands of Lord Ram.

Has anyone heard/ read this theory?

Tolaha · 16-03-12, 04:38 PM

I thought Ravana was the greatest disciple of Shiva not Vishnu!

I'm confused, but this is not probably the thread for me to ask for clarification.

anoop_mig25 · 16-03-12, 04:45 PM

off topic but how can tell more about it i mean was periyar oppose to divison of AP ??

Osmania University students want beef in hostel mess

KS

lemontree

pmaitra

nitesh

Yusuf

mayfair

Chan Lankela

Tolaha

Iamanidiot

Iamanidiot

Tolaha

Iamanidiot

lemontree

Tolaha

anoop_mig25

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