SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad January 11: Hundreds of angry teachers, employees, and students of Sido Kanhu Murmu University (SKMU) Dumka locked the university gate for an indefinite period today in protest against the reduction in holidays for the Sohrai festival by the Raj Bhawan.
On Wednesday evening, Raj Bhawan issued a leave calendar of SKMU Dumka in which ‘Sohrai Parv’ leave has been reduced to one day from six days on January 14 (Sunday).
Why are they angry?
As the Raj Bhawan calendar became public this morning, the teachers of postgraduate departments, colleges, students and Santhali community people reached the university and locked the gate in protest. Even the acting vice-chancellor was not allowed to go inside. At the time of filing the report, agitators were sitting at the gate in protest.
Sohrai is the most important festival for Santhalis
SKMU Dumka Teachers Association general secretary, Prof (Dr) Santosh Kumar Sil, said that ‘Sohrai Parv’ is the most important festival for the people of Santhal Pargana Division. Till last year (2023), the university gave six days of holidays (January 9 to 15) for Sohrai Parv, but Raj Bhawan has allowed only one day of holiday (on January 14).
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“Reduction in Sohrai Parv holidays has triggered sharp protests from all sections in SKMU where most people are Santhalis. So, this curtail can’t be accepted at any cost,” said Prof Sil.
Later in the afternoon, a delegation met the acting vice-chancellor at his residence and handed over a memorandum.
In the memorandum, agitating teachers, employees, students and Santhali community people have said it is regrettable that the Sohrai Fest holidays have been curtailed, which hurts people the most.
Attack on Santhalis’ religious feelings
“It is a mental torture. Notification of Raj Bhawan is imperfect and attacks the Santhal families’ and society’s cultural and religious feelings.”
The agitating teachers, employees and students have demanded the immediate release of a revised notification for Sohrai Parv’s holidays. They also informed the vice-chancellor that the university gate will remain locked until a revised notification is issued.
Dr Sujit K Soren, Dr Snehlata Murmu, Dr Punam Hembram, Dr Mary Magret Tuly, Dr Champawati Soren, and Dr Sweta Marandi were members of the delegation that met the acting vice-chancellor and handed over the memorandum.
