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A controversy at Delhi University's Ramanujan College has broken out regarding a Bhagavad Gita refresher course as some teachers claim the course was termed mandatory in the announcement email. Read full details here!
New Delhi: A controversy has broken out at Delhi University’s Ramanujan College regarding a refresher certificate course on the Bhagavad Gita. Some teachers claim that the course announcement email termed it as mandatory, while the administration said that while attendance is encouraged, no penal action will be taken for absence.
The teachers of Ramanujan College reported receiving an email on December 18 that requested "mandatory attendance" for a refresher certificate course on the Bhagavad Gita scheduled from December 22 to January 9, 2024 for two hours daily.
The email stated that all the newly recruited teaching staff in the last year must register and attend the program in offline mode. For the rest of the teaching staff, it is also compulsory, but they can take a call on whether they would like to attend online or offline.
Further, the email provided additional details, explaining that the course aligned with the establishment of the Indian Knowledge Centre in the college.
However, some teachers raised objections as an anonymous teacher at the college voiced concerns, stating, "I am a practising Hindu, but there are people from other communities too, and they should not be compelled to attend. Moreover, contractual staff have to leave two hours later as they are all afraid about the potential consequences.”
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Chairman’s Response to Bhagavad Gita Course
Dismissing the allegations, Jigar Champaklal Inamdar, Chairman of the college’s governing board, said that some teachers indicated they might not be able to attend, so they assured them that it was acceptable. While they have encouraged teachers to participate, it is also acceptable if they choose not to.
Inamdar highlighted that the course's goal is to "impart the teachings and understand the relevance of the Gita”. He further explained that the two-hour sessions will focus on comprehending the text, incorporating dialogue, and featuring question-and-answer sessions.
Some teachers claimed that on December 22, they were in receipt of an email from the official college email ID, signed by the principal. The email highlighted that 37 teachers had not enrolled in the course.
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The email conveyed that it has been observed that the following teachers have not registered for the certificate course on 'Bhagavad Gita' either in the online or offline mode. All are once again requested to register for the same, accompanied by an attachment listing the professors and assistant professors who had not registered for the course.
Expressing their opinion, a second teacher, speaking anonymously, stated that they don't object to the course, but it shouldn't be obligatory. Moreover, it's the holiday season, and the college is closed, so many teachers are travelling during the workshop days.
There's no use saying it's not mandatory now. After receiving such a threatening email, even the remaining teachers paid the fees and registered for it. However, Principal SP Aggarwal did not receive a response till the time of filing this report.
Course on Srimad Bhagavad Gita
As per the college website, the 20-day course titled "Srimad Bhagavad Gita" is being organized by "Bharatam" or the recently inaugurated Centre for Learning, Illumination, and Innovation.
Rooted in the essence of Bharatiya Gyan Parampara, the course aims to explore each adhyaya [chapter] of the Bhagavad Gita, unravelling its philosophical intricacies and timeless teachings. Through a meticulous examination of the verses, participants will engage in a deep exploration of the spiritual wisdom encapsulated in this revered scripture. The course fee is INR 950.
The Democratic Teachers’ Front, a teachers’ association, released a statement expressing disapproval of the action. “Studying Srimad Bhagavad Gita or any other text is not against academic principles. However, making it mandatory and holding participants captive suggests the promotion of uncritical thinking and sectarian beliefs," the release said.
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