IIT-Kanpur faces backlash for naming Diwali event ‘Jashn-e-Roshni’

The Academics & Career Council (ANC) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur recently faced backlash for naming a Diwali celebration event “Jashn-e-Roshni,” which translates to “festival of lights” in Urdu.

The decision sparked significant public outrage, with many on social media seeing it as disregarding traditional Diwali terms and possibly offending Hindu cultural values. The original post, shared on IIT Kanpur’s ANC Instagram handle, was subsequently removed.

Many critics argued that terms like “Deepawali” or “Deepotsav” would have been more appropriate. “Is it too pedestrian for IIT Kanpur’s International Relations Wing to pronounce Diwali or Deepawali?” one user questioned. Others accused the institution of attempting to appear “cool” at the expense of Hindu traditions.

Some critics warned of escalating protests if the matter wasn’t addressed, including releasing the names of event organizers or involving religious groups such as Bajrang Dal.

This controversy reflects a broader conversation on secularism, cultural representation, and institutional sensitivity within India’s top educational institutions. While the post has been taken down, IIT Kanpur has yet to release an official response to the concerns raised.