New Delhi:
The University Grant Commission (UGC) on Monday asked Sharda University of Greater Noida to submit an action taken report in a matter related to the Political Science examination question paper that asked to explain the similarities between Hindutva and fascism.
Terming the question as ‘objectional’, UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain wrote to Vice-Chancellor Sharda University and said, “It has come to the notice of the University Grants Commission through print and electronic media that an objectionable question was part of the question paper in the examination for the first year BA Political Science (Hons.) in your University. The students were asked in the question paper: “Do you find any similarities between Fascism/Nazism and Hindu right wing (Hindutva)? Elaborate with arguments”.
The question was asked in the examination of the first year of BA in Political Science (Hons.)
The UGC Secretary further asserted that the question was objected by a section of students who filed complaints with the University regarding the matter.
“It has also been noticed that the students objected to the question and filed a complaint with the University. Needless to say that asking students such questions is against the spirit and ethos of our country which is known for its inclusivity and homogeneity and such questions should not have been asked,” added Jain.
He also said, “The University is requested to submit a detailed action taken report on the matter at the earliest highlighting the steps taken for non-recurrence of such incidents in University.”
Following which, the teacher has been suspended and a committee of three-members of senior faculty has been constituted. In an official letter, the varsity wrote, “The University has constituted a three-member committee of senior faculty members to look into the possibility of bias in the questions asked from the 1st year BA Political Science (Hons.) students, pending this inquiry, the University has suspended the concerned faculty.”
The varsity has apologised for the occurrence of such incident saying, “The University regrets that such an incident has taken place that may have the potential for fomenting social discord. The University fraternity is totally averse to any line of thought which distorts the great national identity and the inclusive culture inherent in our national ethos.”
“As an institution of higher learning, we are committed to the larger mission of civilizational revival that celebrates the best of our religion, tradition, history, and culture that have shaped not just the idea of India, but all the facets of human knowledge on the world stage,” it added.
(With inputs from ANI)
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