SPPU professors oppose Atharvashirsha course
Nividita Kelapure
The course is not a required part of any Bachelor’s/Master’s degree, but is a non-compulsory free online course for extra credit. Ever since Savitribai Phule University introduced Ganesh Atharvashirsha course in the curriculum, a controversy has started. This course has the approval of Pune University and Dagdusheth Ganpati Trust. But even before the commencement of the course, reactions are coming from different quarters and some professors of the university have opposed this decision.
The full information about the course has been given by SPPU through a press note, ‘Ganesh Atharvashirsha’. As per the release, ‘Sri Ganesh Atharvashirsha’ is a credit course jointly organised by Department of Sanskrit and Prakrit, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Lokmanya Tilak College, Department of Sanskrit and Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Trust Pune. It is available online for free. The course is not a required part of any Bachelor’s/Master’s degree, but is a non-compulsory free online course for extra credit. The said course has been approved by the authority board of the university and the letter dated 19 September 2022 has been issued. The objective of this course is to explain the meaning of Sanskrit texts in Indian culture and convey the scientific meaning/grammar behind them.
The ‘Ganesh Atharvashirsha’ course has been opposed by senior scholars and more than 20 professors from various departments of the university. A group of professors wrote a letter to the Chancellor of the University and said that this course should be suspended. In this context, the professor of the university has refused to talk about it, and has said that they would give information about it soon.
The Department of Culture and Natural Resources has clarified its position on this, saying, “We are not against the decision, but we will accept the decision of the Vice-Chancellor and our seniors.”
