Yoga and Culture Courses Proposal Rejected by JNU Council

The academic council of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has rejected the proposal of introducing short-term courses in ‘Indian Culture’ and ‘Yoga’ which can propagate the spiritual and mythical traditions and help spreading the ‘Indian values’ to the rest of the world. The UGC and HRD ministry has proposed these short term courses to be conducted by universities in India, including JNU. The proposal was denied by the university administration outright. The decision to reject the proposal was taken in a recent meeting of the academic council.

The proposal has been seen as the result of motivation of the BJP’s ideological mentor RSS in spreading the India’s rich heritage and restore its cultural identity among the people of the country. These short term courses in these subjects were asked to be included as university curricula by the UGC and HRD ministry. There is a clear indication of the polarization of Hindu ideals in the people of India from the RSS and BJP which is an ideologue of Hindutva culture in the country.

According to a member of the Academic Council of the university, “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.”

The rejection from the university has come in such a time when the ministry of HRD is being accused on saffronizing the education sector and an air of intolerance is going all around the country. JNU had asked for feedback from its various schools and departments regarding the three courses that the centre is proposing.