God save GU !
For the first time in Gujarat University’s history, a reading of Sundarkand has been organised on the campus
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 03:48:50 AM (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=2010011920100119034850872ace8e163)
The Gujarat University (GU), it seems, has decided to turn to the Almighty to better its standing among educational institutes. The varsity, along with JG Group of Colleges, will organise a religious ceremony on its campus today at 6 pm. During the two-hour service, bhajans and verses of Sundarkand will be recited and other ceremonial niceties will be carried out.
This is the first time in the university’s 60-year-old history that such an event, whose chief guest is none other than GU V-C Parimal Trivedi, will be organised on its premises. Some student leaders allege Trivedi is trying to ‘saffronise’ the varsity by organising such events.
Trivedi, however, says he didn’t come up with the idea of holding the event. “The College Principals’ Association suggested that Sundarkand be recited be on GU’s campus. The varsity is only playing the role of inviting people to the event, which is aimed at seeking peace and prosperity for students,” he said.
When Mirror contacted the president of the principals’ association, Saurabh Chokshi, he refused to take responsibility for the ceremony. “The event has been planned because GU has completed 60 years, while JG Group of College is 10 years old now,” Chokshi said.
This is not the first time Gujarat University has triggered such a controversy. In December last year, the varsity, Trivedi in particular, drew flak for supporting the RSS’s gou raksha yatra by putting up banners and hoardings on its campus.
“There is nothing wrong with reading of Sundarkand. However, Trivedi should not involve GU’s name in such events. If he wants to hold such religious ceremonies, he should pick a venue outside the varsity campus,” a student leader, who didn’t want to be named, said.
Another student leader said that the vice-chancellor should focus on improving facilities for students instead of showing his religious bent. “No one is opposed to Tuesday’s event. It is only the use of GU’s campus for the ceremony that is galling,” the leader said.
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 03:48:50 AM (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=2010011920100119034850872ace8e163)
The Gujarat University (GU), it seems, has decided to turn to the Almighty to better its standing among educational institutes. The varsity, along with JG Group of Colleges, will organise a religious ceremony on its campus today at 6 pm. During the two-hour service, bhajans and verses of Sundarkand will be recited and other ceremonial niceties will be carried out.
This is the first time in the university’s 60-year-old history that such an event, whose chief guest is none other than GU V-C Parimal Trivedi, will be organised on its premises. Some student leaders allege Trivedi is trying to ‘saffronise’ the varsity by organising such events.
Trivedi, however, says he didn’t come up with the idea of holding the event. “The College Principals’ Association suggested that Sundarkand be recited be on GU’s campus. The varsity is only playing the role of inviting people to the event, which is aimed at seeking peace and prosperity for students,” he said.
When Mirror contacted the president of the principals’ association, Saurabh Chokshi, he refused to take responsibility for the ceremony. “The event has been planned because GU has completed 60 years, while JG Group of College is 10 years old now,” Chokshi said.
This is not the first time Gujarat University has triggered such a controversy. In December last year, the varsity, Trivedi in particular, drew flak for supporting the RSS’s gou raksha yatra by putting up banners and hoardings on its campus.
“There is nothing wrong with reading of Sundarkand. However, Trivedi should not involve GU’s name in such events. If he wants to hold such religious ceremonies, he should pick a venue outside the varsity campus,” a student leader, who didn’t want to be named, said.
Another student leader said that the vice-chancellor should focus on improving facilities for students instead of showing his religious bent. “No one is opposed to Tuesday’s event. It is only the use of GU’s campus for the ceremony that is galling,” the leader said.
