The Jawaharlal Nehru University's Academic Council has cocked a snook at the Modi goverment's proposal that it introduce short-term courses in 'Indian Culture' and Yoga.
The Academic Council has rejected a proposal for the introduction of such courses ostensibly for propagating spiritual and mythological traditions and establishing Indian values in the world. PTI reports.
The proposal was mooted by the varsity administration following communications from UGC and HRD Ministry. But the varsity's Academic Council (AC), the top decision making body, rejected the proposal at a meeting last Friday.
Right-wing Hindutva organisations like the RSS have been working hard to get the BJP government to introduce short-term courses in these subjects, in an effort to saffronise educational campuses across the nation as part of the deepening of the RSS notion of 'cultural identity'.
"The draft for introduction of three short-term courses on Culture and Yoga was placed before the AC along with the feedback received from various departments on the same. The council unanimously resolved to reject the proposal," an AC member told PTI.
The HRD ministry headed by Smriti Irani has been especially keen on saffronising education in the country, an attempt which has met with resistance in various quarters, as for instance, the student protest sparked in the Film and Television Instititue of India where a Hindutva adherent, Gajendra Chauhan, was appointed as chairman.
The varsity had last month circulated a draft of three courses among various schools and departments of JNU for their feedback. .
