Delhi University college asks staff to sign up for Gita course, teachers ask why
The “refresher certificate course”, scheduled between December 22 and January 10, is being held from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm on all days of the week, and participants are to pay Rs 950 to attend it, online or offline.
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The “refresher certificate course”, scheduled between December 22 and January 10, is being held from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm on all days of the week, and participants are to pay Rs 950 to attend it, online or offline. (File)A “compulsory,” paid course on the Bhagavad Gita at Delhi University’s Ramanujan College has left a section of teachers miffed. While the principal said the course is “highly relevant”, some teachers questioned the need for a “religious course.”
The “refresher certificate course”, scheduled between December 22 and January 10, is being held from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm on all days of the week, and participants are to pay Rs 950 to attend it, online or offline.
An email sent by Principal S P Aggarwal to teachers on December 18 read: “It has been decided now that all newly recruited teaching staff in the last one year must register and attend the programme. It is compulsory for them to attend in offline mode. Rest of the teaching staff, it is also compulsory but they can take a call whether they like to attend online or offline.”
It further read: “Similarly, for all non-teaching staff, it is compulsory for them to attend the programme in offline mode. This is in line with our objective of creating an ecosystem in which we can set an example that our education is aligned with Indian Knowledge System i.e. Bharatiya Gyan Parampara.”
The mail said the course is “in line with the setting up of the Indian Knowledge Centre in the college”, adding: “In view of this, it is our responsibility to first sensitise ourselves through such programmes because we will be conducting a series of such programmes not only on “Bhagavad Gita” but other vedas applicable on Indian Knowledge System.”
A second email was sent to the teachers on December 21, which reminded them to register. “Those who have not registered yet, please register as soon as possible since we have to send the data of registration to the Chairman, Governing Body of the college,” the mail read.
“What sort of a message is being sent by an email like this? Those who wanted to participate, would have. Why send out an email?” said a teacher, adding they registered after the second mail.
Teachers said no such course has been held in the college before, adding they didn’t know of any other DU college that is offering a similar course.
“We have not had any such religious course before. We received multiple mails asking us to register. I’m attending since we were told it’s compulsory. We had to attend on Sunday and Christmas as well. Teachers complete exam duty and then attend this. The Indian Knowledge System is not just about Hinduism,” said another teacher.
A third teacher, on condition of anonymity, said, “This is unfortunate. An email telling us the list will be shared with the Chairman is unfair and sounds like a threat. There’s money involved. Non-teaching staff will also have to attend this.”
Asked if the course is compulsory, Aggarwal said, “There is a choice, but we were requesting they attend it because it is related to the National Education Policy. The course is open to all. It is a highly relevant (course)… it is an academic offshoot, not a sermon. We are talking about relevance in today’s context. Not more than 30% of teachers are attending.”
Asked about the email, he said, “We have requested them… its not mine, but the governing body’s request that everybody understand this, only then will they be able to teach new NEP courses.”
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