3 weeks ago
'Yagna' on Jadavpur University campus sparks row over religious rituals
A 'yagna' is a special ceremony where people light a fire and say prayers.
A group called the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, which is connected to the RSS, held one at Jadavpur University in Kolkata.
They said they organised it to pray for the university to do well.
They were also unhappy about problems they say exist in the university's management.
But the university teachers were very upset.
They said religious ceremonies should not be held on the campus, because other groups might want to hold their own too.
The university registrar also said nobody asked for permission to light a fire near an old heritage building.
Some students wanted to complain to the vice chancellor about it.
The organisers said there was nothing wrong with praying for the university.
Many people now disagree about what should be allowed on campus.
RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) held a symbolic 'yagna' in front of Aurobindo Bhavan on the Jadavpur University campus to protest alleged administrative irregularities.
Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA) called the ritual unprecedented and warned it could open the door to competing religious programmes by other groups.
Officiating Registrar Selim Box Mondal objected to the lighting of fire near the heritage building without prior permission and reported the incident to Vice Chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharya.
Some engineering students said they would complain to the vice chancellor, while ABVP backed the organisers, saying the yagna would 'purify' the campus of 'Azadi' slogans previously raised by Left student bodies.
BMS said the ritual was meant to pray for the university's development and also alleged that the registrar and finance officer have overstayed their tenures past age 60.
- Who
- RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) organisers, opposed by the Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA)
- What
- A symbolic 'yagna' on campus triggered a controversy over religious activities on university premises
- Where
- Jadavpur University campus, Kolkata, in front of the Aurobindo Bhavan administrative building
- When
- Friday, with the controversy reported on August 8
- Why
- BMS wanted to pray for the university's development and protest alleged administrative irregularities; critics said it set a dangerous precedent for religious programmes on campus
Critics of the yagna (JUTA, students, registrar)
Organisers and supporters (BMS, ABVP)
Religious rituals on campus
Critics of the yagna (JUTA, students, registrar)
JUTA says the yagna is unprecedented and a specific religious prayer could open the door to competing demands for religious programmes by different groups.
Organisers and supporters (BMS, ABVP)
BMS argues that since rallies and meetings are allowed on campus without causing damage, there should be no objection to a ritual held for the welfare of the university.
Permission and heritage safety
Critics of the yagna (JUTA, students, registrar)
Officiating Registrar Selim Box Mondal objected to lighting a fire in front of the heritage building Aurobindo Bhavan without prior permission, and some students plan to complain about the same.
Organisers and supporters (BMS, ABVP)
Organisers say the ritual was harmless and symbolically aimed at removing 'negative influences' affecting university authorities.
Political symbolism and campus politics
Critics of the yagna (JUTA, students, registrar)
JUTA says the controversy diverts attention from pressing university problems such as research fund shortages and deteriorating buildings.
Organisers and supporters (BMS, ABVP)
ABVP backs the yagna as a symbolic 'purification' of the campus from 'Azadi' slogans previously raised by Left student bodies.
Key facts
- Event
- Symbolic 'yagna' (religious ritual)
- Organisers
- RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS)
- Location
- Jadavpur University campus, in front of Aurobindo Bhavan, Kolkata
- Date
- Friday; reported August 8
- Opposition
- Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA)
- Support
- Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)
- Key officials
- Officiating Registrar Selim Box Mondal; Vice Chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharya
- BMS allegations
- University registrar and finance officer continuing in posts beyond tenure and age 60
Quotes
BMS representative
Representative of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, a student wing of RSS
“The ritual would symbolically remove negative influences affecting the university authorities”
theprint.in
“There was nothing wrong with holding a ritual for the welfare of the university”
theprint.in
Sources
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