The decision to stop the university youth festival abruptly will serve as a shameful lesson for Kerala. The youth festival held in the capital city was rife with clashes, bribe allegations and manipulation in judgements. The registrar had to finally issue a notice as per command from the vice chancellor, to stop the event without even announcing the result or conducting the closing ceremony.

With such a decision, the month-long efforts put in by students and the yeoman work from parents who accompanied their children leaving behind their work went in vain. However, it was wise of the vice-chancellor to immediately stop the event rather than invite bloodshed on the last day of the event.

It is an openly kept secret about the dalliance between the university union and the organizers of the event. Could there be a bigger embarrassment at a youth festival than having a judge arrested on the spot for taking bribes and tampering with the results of the competition?

Amidst this, KSU alleged an attack from SFI workers on students and their followers. To protest against this, KSU members came to near the stage which saw the SFI members lined up on the other side with slogans and challenges.

This year’s youth festival faltered from the very start after the governor ordered the removal of the controversial name (Intifada) given by the union to the festival. Events such as youth festivals should be an arena to flaunt cultural talents rather than brag about political valour.

The campuses in Kerala, which should be the spring of deep friendships, collective thoughts and artistic feelings have now turned into a den of political rivalry and ruckus. In the past, student movements were led by value-conscious, smart young leaders, but that has turned into a bygone era. As of now, the followers of students' outfits are thugs who are led by criminals in the guise of leaders.

All political parties should be committed to maintaining discipline, dignity and a sense of responsibility in their student movements. The university has the responsibility to ensure the dignity and respect of the higher education sector by establishing guidelines and code of conduct for the conduct of college events including art festivals, sports fairs and campus film festivals.

Hereafter the authorities should be vigilant enough to not allow prestigious events such as youth festivals to turn into a cesspool of violence, brawls and endless corruption.