Govt sees red on Savarkar, VC denies it’s saffronisation

Govt sees red on Savarkar, VC denies it’s saffronisation

Panel To Examine Univ Syllabus, Submit Report

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kozhikode:11.09.2021

The row over inclusion of writings of Hindutva ideologues MS Golwakar and V D Savarkar in the MA Governance and Politics syllabus of Kannur University appeared to evolve into a larger debate on whether non-mainstream or controversial works should become part of conventional syllabi, even as it put the government in a spot on Friday, with divisions cropping up among Left parties on the issue.

The varsity has constituted a two-memberpanel -- comprising political scientists Prof J Prabhash and Prof K S Pavithran -- to examine the syllabus and submit a report in five days. Higher education minister R Bindu on Friday termed the development as "highly sensitive" and said it was "dangerous" to have communal references in university syllabus, but toned down her reaction by the evening. “If the syllabus requires any change, the university will take appropriate steps. If some additions proposed are to be dropped, the university would do so," she said.

Protests in varsity for second day

CM Pinarayi Vijayan also gave a similar reaction but said the government does not want to glorify ideologies and leaders who had turned away their faces from the Independence struggle. The university had included extracts from Savarkar’s “Hindutva: who is a Hindu”, and Golwalkar’s “Bunch of Thoughts” in the syllabus. Vice-chancellor Gopinath Ravindran justified the decision, saying the syllabus was aimed at enabling students to develop a critical understanding about various strands of Indian political thought.

The varsity witnessed protests for the second day on Friday, with the AISF also taking out a protest march demanding withdrawal of the syllabus. KSU activists blocked the vicechancellor’s vehicle. Senior CPI leader Benoy Vishwam joined the opposition leaders in criticising the decision. Opposition leader V D Satheesan said the decision is condemnable.

The issue, meanwhile, laid bare conflicting opinions in SFI, with Kannur University Students Union chairman M K Hassan supporting the decision and SFI state secretary K M Sachin Dev opposing it.

The controversy brought up diverse opinions among academics as well. Historian and former ICHR chairman M G S Narayanan said it was imperative that students read all diverse strands of Indian political thought at the post-graduate level. “They should get an opportunity to compare and contrast different points of view. Also, it will help them in developing their own independent perspective,” he said. Political scientist and Kasargod central university former vice-chancellor G Gopakumar said it was unfortunate that holistic academic matters are used for petty political gains. “Political science is a liberal discipline. Those who speak against the syllabus should at least understand that Indian political thought is a prominent paper and works and philosophy of Savarkar, Golwalkar and Muhammad Ali Jinnah are part of this,” he said. “The demand to obfuscate the prominent political ideologies would be like asking political science students to study the second world war, without studying Hilter and Mussolini and their ideologies,” he added.

P K Ravindran, educationist and former deputy director of the collegiate education department, however said students should be taught textbooks that will take them forward and not backward in time. “Universities should not be the place to promote retrograde ideas. It is wrong to teach youngsters textbooks and ideas that would take them centuries back. If those responsible for drafting the syllabus don’t take the matter seriously, they do not deserve to hold such positions,” he said.

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