New Delhi: A notice pasted outside the South Asian University (SAU) mess this week, announcing that non-vegetarian food would not be served from the beginning of Navratri until October 2, has triggered protests from students. They claim the decision reflects an attempt to impose religious practices on an international campus.
Students opposing the move said the order restricts dietary choices and excludes those who depend on non-vegetarian meals in the hostel mess. “This is not about food alone. It is about enforcing a particular cultural and religious norm in a university meant to represent India’s diversity and accept students from all cultures,” said a first-year Masters student.
According to students, the notice indicates that the administration has chosen to preempt confrontation by suspending non-vegetarian meals during the nine-day Navratri festival.
The controversy follows months after a violent incident on Maha Shivratri in February, when serving fish curry in the mess sparked a clash between student groups. Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had objected to non-vegetarian food being served on the day, entering the dining hall to stop it. A confrontation ensued with the mess committee, during which a woman student alleged she was manhandled. The incident had prompted SAU to order an internal inquiry.
In March, SAU expelled Bangladeshi doctoral scholar Sudipto Das for misconduct and fined mess secretary Yashada Sawant Rs 5,000. The administration said the actions were taken to restore order on campus.