West Bengal Education minister Partha Chatterjee on Friday accused the Centre of trying to saffronise the education system by asking the institutions of higher education to make arrangements for students to view the speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 11 September.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Friday urged school and college students to not miss Modi’s speech on 11th, the day marking Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya's Centenary Celebrations, and the 125th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's Address at Chicago’s Parliament of the World’s Religions
“This is nothing but an attempt to saffronise the education system in the country. I have never seen such a Tughlaqi decision ever,” Chatterjee told reporters at the state secretariat.
The education minister said that the state government would not allow the universities and the higher education institutions in the state to follow the order. Chatterjee said that the Centre was “forcibly” trying to impose such orders.
“There has been no discussion with the state government regarding this matter. And the UGC is sending instructions directly to state-run universities despite there is an education department of the state government,” he said.
The minister also criticised the Centre for putting Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya and Swami Vivekananda on the same platform and described it as a “wrong move”.
“Vivekananda is a global figure and the move to keep him on the same platform with Deendayal Upadhyaya is not a correct move,” he said.
What the UGC Circular Says
The institutions have been asked to identify venues which have audio-visual capabilities, or auditoriums where the address can be heard from.
Institutions have been asked to install proper TV/projection facility for wide viewing. The students and teachers may be encouraged to participate in the event. The programme/venue may be prominently displayed on the campus notice board.UGC Circular
“The Prime Minister will address the Nation to remind one and all about the relevance and significance of Swami Vivekananda's teachings in the backdrop of today's social milieu. lt would be of particular importance for the youth of today to understand and absorb the content of Swami Vivekananda's messages to the World, in order to ensure their right educational, career and spiritual growth,” reads the circular issued by the UGC.
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