AMU cancels literary fest abruptly, students demand explanation

NEW DELHI: The three-day Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) literary festival 2022 which began from May 20 was abruptly cancelled by the university administration, students claimed on social media. Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan was scheduled to speak today, May 21, 2022, at Kennedy Hall Auditorium.

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Public, intellectuals, literary connoisseurs, faculty members, and students have been taking part in the literary festival. The fest features lectures, panel discussions, and discourses on books.

However, this morning when students reached the campus, they found the proctorial team was there and Kennedy Auditorium, the venue of the fest, was locked. They students and guests have been waiting outside the auditorium since morning.

Without giving the reason, the AMU in a notice said, “Due to unavoidable circumstances the events of 21 and 22 May 2022 of the AMU Lit Fest, is hereby postponed till further orders.”

What is this? What are the reasons?

Note: One of the reasons they were worried was about the outing of "female students" and alleged that there will be some (in lighter vein), law and order thing (within the campus) pic.twitter.com/doJMNJF2iW

— Areeb Uddin (@Areebuddin14) May 21, 2022

An advocate of Allahabad High Court Areeb Uddin said, “So the AMU litfest has been abruptly cancelled by the University administration? Without giving any reasons? Under who's pressure? One of the organizers told me that the guest is waiting and they can't even take a call. This is insane.”

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At 6:30 today, a talk by Raghuram Rajan was scheduled on why liberal democracy is necessary for Indian development. “The students have been preparing for this event since months. This is not done,” he added.

AMU literary festival 2022