Anna University faces flak for introducing Gita & Upanishads for engineering students

Following the outrage, the Anna University Vice-Chancellor on Thursday said the varsity will amend the regulations and make it choice-based. “I will speak to my colleague in Information Science and Technolohgy (IST) and will amend it soon making it a choice based for students,” VC MK Surappa said.

The latest regulations sparked a huge outrage among the students and teachers of the varsity, with some calling it as “an imposition over the pride of Dravidian culture.”

Speaking to indianexpress.com, Ranjan Pillay, a B.Tech student said, “If the varsity is making Bhagavad-Gita as an elective subject in the Anna University, then why not Thirukural. The varsity’s decisions hurt the sentiments of the Tamil people.”

Another B.Tech student said, “How come studying Gita will help a B.Tech student to become professional and get a well paid job.”

“The students are pursuing B.Tech to make a career in this field and not to become religious,” the student said.

DMK chief M.K Stalin had also criticised the varsity’s decisions in a series of tweet yesterday. “At the CEG Campus of Anna University, the curriculum for the year 2019 has been made compulsory and the attempt to impose Sanskrit in the name of “Indian-Foreign Philosophy” is condemned!,” tweeted Stalin.

#கீழடி அகழாய்வுகள் வெளியாகி, தொல்தமிழர்களின் – திராவிடப் பண்பாட்டின் தொன்மையையும் பெருமையையும் உலகம் அறிந்துள்ள நிலையில், தமிழ் புறக்கணிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதை உணர்ந்து, பல்கலைக்குப் பொறுப்பு வகிக்கும் ஆளுநரும், உயர்கல்வித்துறையும் இந்தப் பண்பாட்டு ஆதிக்கப் பாடத்திட்டத்தை மாற்றிடவேண்டும்

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) September 25, 2019

“As the world is aware of the myths and pride of the Tamil-Dravidian culture, following the excavations revealed, the governor responsible for the university and higher education must change this culture-dominated curriculum to realize the neglect of Tamil,” Stalin opposed varsity’s decisions in his tweet.

The issue gained widespread traction on social media, with hashtag #SaveAnnaUniversity trending on Twitter.

There is another paper in anna university syllabus. It is titled values and ethics. It has titles & concepts like Purusharta, Sarvodaya, Vasudeva kutumbakam. Thoughts of Malaviya-Gandhi. It is compulsory paper for streams like Chemical engineering, E &I. Sigh! #SaveAnnaUniversity

— Poo.Ko.SARAVANAN பூ.கொ.சரவணன் (@PUKOSARAVANAN) September 25, 2019

Ungala matum dhan nambitu irukoam. Please announce a protest for this. This is highly condemnable. Each day some how bjp wants to introduce hindutuva. #SaveAnnaUniversity from BJP

— Suganya Santhosh (@suku_santhosh) September 25, 2019