Twitter
Advertisement

IIMC's 'yagna' before seminar call raises alumni hackles

The alumni also protested the inclusion of the former Bastar IG, as a member of the seminar

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) is once again in the eye of a storm. The controversy, this time, is over a seminar titled "Current Status Of Nationalist Journalism" which the IIMC is going to conduct in collaboration with a media organisation called Media Scan on Saturday. The event, will be proceeded by an elaborated 'Yagna' session.

The 'Yagna', that will be held before the inaugural session of the seminar, has stirred up outrage among IIMC alumni on social media, who have termed it as an attempt to "saffronise" the institute. Some of the alumni have even changed their profile pictures saying "reclaim IIMC".

"Educational institutions should maintain a distance from religious activities. The only purpose of organising such activities inside an educational institute must be to promote a particular ideology," asked Prakriti Sharma, an alumnus.

The institute, however, said that it has only "supported" the media organisation — Media Scan, by providing it with space to conduct the seminar. "The programme is being organised by 'Media Scan' and the institute has no role in it. Being the premier media institute we have just provided them with space for the seminar," said IIMC Director General KG Suresh.

"Most importantly, there are no classes in IIMC these days as the academic session is over and even the staff will not be there on Saturday. So, it's not meant to ideologically influence either of them," he added.

However the IIMC Director General's remarks did little to assuage the alumni. "The theme (of the seminar) is even more problematic. What do they mean by 'nationalist journalism?' This is a sheer attempt to further propagate the jingoist debate of national and anti-national," said Rohin Verma, another alumnus.

The alumni also protested the inclusion of the former Bastar IG, SRP Kalluri as a member of the seminar. "The person who is infamous for hounding journalists who were critical of him during his tenure is now going to speak on media," said an alumni, who wished to remain anonymous.

...& ANALYSIS

  • A clash has broken out between KG Suresh and students, ever since he took charge as the DG of IIMC. Some students have been alleging that Suresh has been "promoting of single ideology" at the institute. Suresh, however, has been denying the allegations saying, "a section of leftist students is trying to malign the name of the institute."
Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement