Gita course for all staff at DU college triggers controversy

SOME TEACHERS SAID THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND, SO WE TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS OKAY, SAID THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COLLEGE'S GOVERNING BOARD

- Ashna Butani

A controversy has broken out at Delhi University’s Ramanujan College over a refresher certificate course on the Bhagavad Gita, with some teachers alleging that the email announcing the course termed it mandatory and the administration saying that while attendance was encouraged, no penal action would be taken over absence.

Teachers said that they received an email on December 18 asking for “mandatory attendance” for a refresher certificate course on the Bhagavad Gita from December 22 to January 9 for two hours every day.

“It has been decided that all the newly recruited teaching staff in the last one year must register and attend the programme. It is compulsory for them to attend in the offline mode. Rest of the teaching staff, it is also compulsory, but they can take a call on whether they would like to attend online or offline,” said the email, seen by HT.

The email further elaborated that the course was in line with the setting up of the Indian Knowledge Centre in the college.