CPIM Kerala is doing this right when the 50+ US universities are holding an international conference: Dismantling the Global Hindutwa.
Monitoring Desk
Yet another row has erupted in the academic sector in Kerala, this time over the recommendation of books of prominent Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologues in the curriculum of the newly sanctioned post-graduation course in Public Administration at the Kannur University. The controversy came even as a recently issued circular at the Central University in Kasaragod warned its faculty of disciplinary action if their lectures or statements are ‘provocative’ or ‘anti-national’’.
The books that have been cleared for study at the Kannur University include those of MS Golwalkar, Veer Savarkar and Deendayal Upadhyaya. Along with them are books of Rabindranath Tagore, Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and other such personalities. These books are included in the curriculum in the third semester of the post graduate Public Administration course. The course is currently offered only at the Government Brennen College in Thalassery in Kannur.
But what has come as a surprise to many is the way the chairman of Kannur University, MK Hassan, belonging to the Students Federation of India (student wing of the CPI-M), reacted to questions on this development, as across the country the SFI is up in arms against the alleged saffronisation of education. “This is included in the comparative literature part and only if this is taught in detail will one know what damage these people have done. We have already had a few rounds of discussion on this and now we are going to have a public debate to find out the response,” said Hassan.
Gopinath Ravindran, Vice-Chancellor of Kannur University, has not commented on the issue, IANS reported. Meanwhile, media critic and former Malayalam professor at Calicut University, MN Karassery expressed shock over the development. “This is shocking news and such a thing should never have happened at all. I strongly feel this is just a test case for what is in store, as though those who are behind it are trying to test the waters,” said Karaserri.
Meanwhile, in a comment on google group of writers, one Mr. S. Faizi said ‘At a time when the whole country is fighting Hindutwa, the CPM ruled Kannur University is legitimizing the rabid, anti-Indian, anti-constitutional ideas of the fascist parivar. Books that RSS themselves are ashamed to be in public domain! (RSS has quietly withdrawn ‘We or Our Nationhood Defined and Bunch of thoughts’).
He stated that recently CPI leader Annie Raja has observed that Kerala police is controlled by RSS, which is factually true, and she is being attacked by a section of the State CPI, who recently observed the Ramayana month.
Mr. Faizi also quoted the relevant page of the curriculum, which says:
“And supported by the CPM followers, a huge let down for the democratic aspirations of the country. German universities are silly that they keep at bay Mein Kampf the political ideology of Nazism, maybe Kannur University will now pass a resolution asking Germany to lift the ban on the book. It is a pity that Klux Klux Klan’s manifesto is not taught in US universities, what a loss for the students there. What a huge loss is it to humanity that the ideology of Apartheid is not taught in southern African Universities”.
He said, “Note the wording ‘rashtra’ and half of the books there are of the fanatics. If it is to cover all the streams of thoughts on the subject where is Radical Humanism of MN Roy, where are JP and Lohia, where is the Naxalbari movement that has influenced even Nepal, the Dravidian thought on nationhood, the Adivasi idea of nation, the northeastern notion of benien nation….”
And CPIM Kerala is doing this right when the 50+ US universities are holding an international conference: Dismantling the Global Hindutwa.
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