UGC wants students to take unity pledge on Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary
In
a note to all universities, UGC has also asked them to also invite freedom
fighters to campuses to talk about nationalism, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and
‘current issues’
I
dedicate myself to preserve the unity, integrity and security of the nation and
also strive hard to spread this message among my fellow countrymen. I take this
pledge in spirit of unification of my country which was made possible by the
vision and action of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. I also solemnly resolve to make
my own contribution to ensure internal security of my country.
That’s
the pledge the University Grants Commission (UGC) wants around 30 million
students to take on 31 October, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel.
The
apex higher education regulator wrote to all universities on 17 October, asking
them to pass the message to their thousands of affiliated colleges.
Patel,
a lifelong Congressman, was the first home minister of independent India and is
considered by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party as an icon of national unity.
Patel’s birthday has been observed as National Unity Day since 2014.
In
its note, which Mint has reviewed, UGC has asked universities to also
invite freedom fighters to campuses to talk about nationalism, Patel, and
“current issues”.
While
none of these are mandatory, UGC has asked the universities to keep the human
resources development ministry posted on the events and programmes conducted.
“As
a mark of befitting respect to our beloved leader, you are requested to kindly
ensure these activities may be undertaken in your esteemed university and all
affiliated colleges,” the circular issued by UGC secretary Jaspal S. Sindhu
said. “I would feel highly obliged, if the action taken on above
activities...is sent to ministry of human resource development....”
In
February, the HRD ministry said all 46 central universities would prominently
display the national flag. In May, UGC wrote to universities, asking them to
avoid plastic flags (for environmental reasons), give the national flag a
position of honour on campuses, and to ensure no disrespect was shown to it.
Both
were a response to events earlier in the year when a meeting in Jawaharlal
Nehru University to mark the third anniversary of the execution of Afzal Guru,
one of the people responsible for the attacks on Parliament in 2001, saw
anti-India slogans being raised.
That
resulted in the arrest of the university’s student union president, sparking
protests by students across the country.
Regards
Pralhad Jadhav
Senior Manager @ Library
Khaitan & Co
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