UP varsity vice-chancellor recommends Ayodhya book, sparks row

MEERUT: Sangeeta Shukla, vice-chancellor (VC) of Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU), also referred to as Meerut University, has issued a circular asking colleges and institutions affiliated with it to buy a book on Ayodhya titled ‘Ayodhya - Parampara, Sanskriti, Virasat’. The book, penned by writer and poet Yatindra Mishra, is available for around ₹6,000 on online platforms.
In the circular, a copy of which is with TOI, the VC said she has “received the book on Ayodhya, which is available in Hindi and Sanskrit languages.”
“The book has a collection of rare pictures. It will be good for all colleges and institutions, and hence they should think about buying it,” the circular stated.
Chaudhary Charan Singh University is the parent university of several colleges and private institutions across eight districts of Uttar Pradesh. The VC could not be reached for comments even after repeated attempts.
State president NSUI Rohit Rana said on Sunday, “I don’t have any problem with Lord Ram or Ayodhya, but I have a problem with a figure like the VC, who is sitting on a constitutional post and advertising a religious book. This is nothing but helping bodies like RSS propagate their agenda. We condemn this move,” he said.
Anshu Mallik from Samajwadi Party’s student union at CCSU said the VC must take back the circular. “Asking to buy a religious book of one religion or community will do nothing but hurt the sentiments of others,” he said.