Last Sunday, 4th August, students at Azim Premji University (APU) wore badges of the Palestinian flag as they collected their graduation certificates during the convocation ceremony. The students also demanded that Wipro, Azim Premji’s company, sever ties with the Tel Aviv University and Israeli companies. After Ashoka University and IIT Madras, APU has also become the ground for anti-Israel propaganda.
Speaking to the media, one of the students said, “We demanded the company divest from Israeli MNCs and institutions to stop funding the genocide in Palestine.” Representatives of students claimed that 80 students wore such badges.
APU spokesperson stated the matter and said, “A few students wore Palestinian flags as a sign of solidarity. The convocation was held without disturbance, nor were there any protests on campus that we are aware of.”
Notably, Azim Premji University is mainly funded by Azim Premji Foundation which was established by Azim Premji, founder of Wipro. The students criticised Wipro as it has a research partnership with Tel Aviv University and other Israeli organisations. They also demanded that Wipro should divest from the Israeli companies and cease funding activities claiming it contributes to so-called genocide in Palestine.
A student said, “Azim Premji Foundation is funded by Wipro and has a reputation of being very philanthropic. On one hand, they are maintaining an image of working for the welfare of the people and on the other hand, they are enabling the genocide of Palestinians by partnering with Israeli organisations. We demand that the company stop investing in Israel and stand with the people of Palestine.”
Another student told The Hindu, “It was a symbolic protest. We expected Mr Azim Premji to be present at the convocation like every year, but he did not come this time. But we want this message to reach him. We appeal to him to cut ties with Israeli institutions.”
Earlier, students had organised pro-Palestine rally in the university.
Massive rally taken out by students of Azim Premji University in solidarity with the Palestinians. Hundreds of students gathered today after classes to extend their support to the cause of liberation of Palestine from Israeli settler colonialism. pic.twitter.com/ZjfPZTFjB2
— imran gowhar (@imrangowhar) October 17, 2023
This is not the first time students became “woke” during convocation. In July 2024, it was reported that pro-Palestine slogans were raised in Ashoka University during convocation. On 24th May, students of Ashoka University displayed pro-Palestine placards during their convocation ceremony. A video of the ceremony had gone viral on social media platforms showing students dressed for receiving their degrees holding placards that read “Free Palestine” and “Stop Genocide” above their heads. Notably, the student union of Ashoka University (Ashoka University Student Government or AUSG) has been demanding to cut ties with Israel-based Tel Aviv University since May this year.
Just few days before that, it was reported that IIT Madras student peddled pro-Palestine propaganda in convocation. On 19th July, a graduating student, Dhananjay Balakrishnan, used IIT Madras as a platform to give a pro-Palestine speech during the institute’s 61st convocation. Notably, Dhananjay won the prize for best all-around proficiency in curricular and extracurricular activities in a dual degree in mechanical engineering. While accepting the Governor’s prize, he delivered the Pro-Palestine speech where he claimed that a “mass genocide” was taking place in Palestine and also went on to give a “call for action”.
