Should V-C deliver talk organised by RSS wing? Himanshu Pandya’s talk at Bharatiya Vichar Manch sparks row

Cong says being top authority of varsity, V-C should be apolitical

Gujarat University Vice Chancellor Himanshu Pandya’s talk on Saturday at Bharatiya Vichar Manch, an affiliate of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has further fuelled the debate on politicisation of education and the need for apolitical persons to head institutes in Gujarat. Pandya is scheduled to deliver the lecture on Bharat Pratham: Vichar ane Achar at HK Commerce College on Saturday.

Pandya has been under the scanner since attending a BVM seminar at Gujarat Convention Hall which was addressed by RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat in February. He also faced the wrath of NSUI after he failed to attend their event, but attended an event organised by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

When contacted, Pandya said that he will deliver the lecture in his personal capacity and not as V-C. “Why can’t someone deliver talk in personal capacity? I will be sharing my thoughts as an academician. And Iam going to talk about India and not about politics,” he said.

While academicians think it is fine to attend an event, Congress said that his presence at RSS-backed body’s event points at politicisation of education. Hemant Shah, faculty at HK Arts College said there is nothing wrong if a V-C attends an event or delivers talk on an RSS platform. He is just sharing his thoughts with the audience.

If I was invited, even I will go,” Shah said. “Didn’t Pranab Mukherjee attend RSS event?” he asked. GPCC Chief Spokesperson Manish Doshi however begs to differ claiming that a V-C is the topmost authority in varsity. “It is important for him to stay away from any ideology.

His job is to improve quality of education, so he should preach students at GU first to improve vichar and achar rather than going to RSS to talk about it,” Doshi said.