JNU council rejects proposal on Yoga courses

In a rebuff to the government, Jawaharlal Nehru University’s (JNU) Academic Council has rejected a proposal for the introduction of short-term courses in ‘Indian Culture’ and ‘Yoga’ for propagating spiritual 

traditions and establishing Indian values in the world.

The proposal was mooted by the university administration, following communications from the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the HRD Ministry.

However, the university’s Academic Council (AC), which is the top decision-making body, rejected the proposal at a meeting last Friday. 

The proposal to introduce three short-term courses in these subjects had come against the backdrop of right-wing organisations, including BJP’s ideological mentor RSS, insisting on propagation of culture in educational campuses to promote India’s rich heritage and restore its cultural identity.

“The draft for the 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 said.

The rejection comes at a time when the government, especially the HRD ministry, is being accused of making attempts at saffronisation of education. The university had last month circulated a draft of three courses among various schools and departments of JNU for their feedback. 

According to the draft, the course on Indian culture is aimed at expounding the importance of the country’s culture as well as exploring the etymological, social, spiritual, cultural and mythological aspects and establishing Indian values in the world.