IGS being shut to grab land, say ex-students

Wardha: Claiming that the management’s move to suspend admissions citing coronavirus pandemic this year is a step towards shutting down the Institute of Gandhian Studies (IGS), former students on Sunday launched ‘Save IGS’ campaign on social media on Sunday.
Former students alleged that the management wants to shut down the institute to grab the land to build a hostel for Shiksha Mandal. The students claimed that patron of the institute Rahul Bajaj is being misguided by the director and local management.
IGS is being run by Jamanalal Bajaj Foundation and it was established to preach Gandhian ideology in practical way to students. Hundreds of national and international students have studied here. IGS runs 10-month diploma course every year for 14 students covering Gandhian philosophy.
A former student from Odisha Sasmita Jena in a Facebook post said, “IGS is soul of many progressive thinkers, but director Bharat Mahoday and Sanjay Bhargav want to destroy this institute for their personal need and greed. They plan to convert it into a profitmaking institution.”
IGS director Bharat Mahoday said, “We have suspended the course this year due to Covid crises.” On reopening of the institute, he said, “It is up to the management. I cannot say anything about that now.”
“We invite admissions in July every year, but this year not a single application has been received and therefore the decision to suspend the course,” said Mahoday.
On IGS professor Dr Ramchandra Pradhan being asked to vacate his room and leave the institute citing Covid situation, Mahoday said, “He is from Delhi and since the lockdown he was staying here. As the institute is not going to open this year, we have asked him to leave the campus.”