Posters: A new weapon against terror

The university used the services of its NSS volunteers to put up posters and banners across the Capital to reinforce the institution’s secular image, reports Ritika Chopra.

Jamia Millia Islamia University has found a unique way to send across its message on terrorism — posters.

HT Image

On Monday, the university used the services of its National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers to put up posters and banners across the Capital to reinforce the institution’s secular image.

The posters — with the message, “Jamia Millia Islamia for peace, secularism, non-violence and communal harmony” — have been put up in Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, India International Centre, India Habitat Centre, parts of central Delhi and also areas like Sarita Vihar and New Friends colony.

“We’ve realised that the image we have of ourselves is at odds with what people think. We felt the need to reinforce the image of our community as a peace loving one and posters should help us put it across,” said media coordinator Rakshanda Jalil. She said the idea was conceived over the weekend and close to 3,000 posters were printed for the purpose.

The University is also doing its bit to counsel the people of Jamia Nagar through its community radio run by the AJK Mass Communication Research Centre.

“The recent encounter at Batla House has instilled fear in the people living here. We are trying to counsel them on how best to tackle this situation through our live programmes aired in the afternoon. We’ve even been encouraging them to talk to the media and tell them what they know and also cooperate with the police during investigations,” said G.R. Syed, who is in charge of Radio Jamia.