Udai Pratap College (UP College) in Varanasi is currently facing a period of unrest after protests broke out over a mosque on the college campus. Students first demonstrated on November 29th as people arrived to worship at the mosque for Friday prayers. Since then, tensions have risen.
The situation intensified on December 4th when students assembled near the mosque entrance to recite the Hanuman Chalisa, a Hindu devotional hymn. This event took place amid wider concerns. Recent violence connected to a mosque in Sambhal and several lawsuits demanding surveys of mosques and dargahs across the country have contributed to the charged atmosphere. The mosque in question is located about 10 kilometers from the center of Varanasi, and its presence has become a focal point of contention.
These protests have now put the mosque’s history and current status under scrutiny. Although the specific reasons behind the students’ demonstrations are still unclear, reciting the Hanuman Chalisa near the mosque can be seen as a statement of sorts. In other words, the act carries symbolic weight in the context of religious identity and territorial claims.
वाराणसी के Udai Pratap College में मौजूद मजार को लेकर आज फिर से भारी बवाल#Varanasi #ATVideo #Shankhnaad pic.twitter.com/N3s4VYH2uP
— AajTak (@aajtak) December 6, 2024
The events at UP College are part of a larger pattern. Across India, there is growing sensitivity and increasing legal challenges related to religious structures. This means that disputes over religious sites are becoming more common and complex.
The situation at UP College remains tense, and officials are carefully monitoring further developments. The interactions surrounding the mosque reflect the delicate balance of communal relations in India today. For this reason, the college community and observers are watching closely for any escalation or resolution to the conflict.