The Kannur University was witnessing vigorous protests by opposition student unions since Thursday against the decision to include parts of books by RSS leader MS Golwalkar and Hindu Mahasabha leader VD Savarkar in its postgraduate curriculum.
He told the media, “The allegation of saffronisation is completely baseless. If you make such allegations against Kannur University, you can also make similar allegations against Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. VD Savarkar JNU included in the curriculum.”
The vice-chancellor, who has faced intense opposition from the student unions over the issue, said the inclusion of Savarkar and Golwalkar in the curriculum should not be seen as a step of saffronisation.
“When excerpts from his texts are included in the curriculum, there should also be lessons from those representing other ideologies that will help students to compare the two and develop the skills of critical inquiry. This is what is missing here. I think there is a shortcoming in this curriculum,” explained Raveendran.
Asked whether Higher Education Minister R Bindu has sought an explanation from him on the issue, the Vice Chancellor said he has already submitted a reply to the government.
The minister told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram that it is dangerous to place communal material in the educational curriculum.
Though the university unit of the ruling CPI(M)’s student wing Students Federation of India (SFI) initially did not oppose the curriculum, its state president Sachin Dev on Friday said the organization was against the existing curriculum and inclusion. The books of RSS ideologues are “unacceptable”.
Earlier in the day, Youth Congress workers blocked the vice-chancellor’s car on the university campus and did not allow him to enter the office, demanding withdrawal of the controversial portion from the syllabus.
They dispersed only after the university authorities informed them about the formation of an external panel to review the syllabus.
The student wing of the Kerala Students’ Union (KSU), the Congress and the student wing of the Muslim Students’ Union (MSF), the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), protested on the campus on Thursday over the issue.
According to unions, the university has incorporated parts of Golwalkar’s books including “Bunch of Thoughts” and Savarkar’s “Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?” Are included. in the curriculum of the third semester students of MA Governance and Politics.
The syllabus was not prepared by the Board of Studies but by the teachers of Thalassery Brennan College and it was decided by the Vice-Chancellor, he alleged.
MA Governance and Politics is taught only at Brennan College, Kannur University.
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