Osmania University (OU) that houses close to 10,500 students will soon become a venue to assert culinary politics. A section of students of the campus, supported by faculty members, activists and student outfits of other universities in the city will host a ‘Beef festival’ on the university campus on December 10, World Human Rights Day.

The festival which is a move towards upholding culinary tastes of marginalised communities will also have the presence of political leaders, writers and ideologues from across the country, organisers of the festival said. Among those invited to attend the event are novelist, Arundhati Roy, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Thol Tirumavalavan of VCK party, Tamil Nadu.

Osmania University had organised a similar festival in 2011, during which beef biryani was served to over 100 students, activists and faculty members. On that occasion, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad had attempted to disrupt the festival, leading to police action on both the warring parties.

Interestingly, this time, those who have signed up for the fest also include members of non-marginalised communities.

The ‘beef discourse’ on December 10 will not just assert the culinary culture of Dalit-Bahujan-Minority communities but also address food politics in states such as Kerala, West Bengal, and also the seven North Eastern States where beef is a staple diet, organisers explained. “Beef is food for a large number of people. But in recent debates over beef eating it is being portrayed as a food which is not pure,” said B. Sudarshan, a research scholar of Osmania Univeristy.

Students decided to organise the event on December 10 to uphold food right as one among the human rights.

Student outfits, including All India Students Federation (AISF), Progressive Democrative Students Union (PDSU), Students Federation of India (SFI), Bahujan Students Federation (BSF), Dalit Bahujan Cultural Front, Telangana Vidyarthi Sangham (TVS), All Mala Students Association, Madiga Students Federation and two research scholar outfits of Osmania University — OU Research Scholars and OU Scholars Association, are among the organisers and supporters of the fest, Mr. Sudarshan confirmed.

As per the current plan, cooked beef including biryani will be distributed to all participants from stalls set up in open spaces on campus.

In 2011, biryani was served in front of OU’s New Research Scholar hostel. When asked whether they organisers obtained permission from the university, they said, “The previous time we held the festival even without obtaining permission. We will, however, intimate the university authorities,” Mr. Sudarshan said. Within the State, students have sought the support of Telangana Rashtra Samithi in conducting the fest.