– Mohammed Atherulla Shariff
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat unit of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is set to organise, for the first time a gathering at Gujarat Vidyapith, founded by Mahatma Gandhi on Sunday.
This holds importance for the fact that in the past the varsity denied permission to those who were known for their anti-establishment stance including Gandhi’s great grandson Tushar Gandhi. He told Deccan Herald that he wasn’t surprised as “our own people served up the university established by Bapu to the RSS.”
However, the choice of venue has sparked a debate, with the Gandhian scholar and former Vice Chancellor Sudarshan Iyengar expressing strong reservation about the RSS holding event at the university founded by Gandhi. He calls it ‘improper’.
“It is a known fact that the RSS ideology is totally opposite to the Gandhian philosophy. There are many places where the RSS could have organised the event. Yet, just to prove that Vidyapith is now under their dominance, they are organising this event in this institute founded by Gandhi,” he told PTI.
In February, 2023, Patel, an ex-BJP media cell convenor, was appointed its vice-chancellor and a year before that Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat took over as its chancellor. Devvrat succeeded renowned activist and founder of SEWA late Ela Bhatt.
A crisis hit the university after the then vice-chancellor Rajendra Khimani and others officials proposed Devvrat’s name as the chancellor. Many trustees resigned writing an open letter to the Gujarat governor, asking him to not accept the proposal as it was done under “crass political pressure” and “in total disregard of Gandhi’s values, methods and practices.” The governor went on to accept the proposal.
RSS’ Gujarat spokesperson Vijay Thaker in a statement said that “a controversy is being created over the event titled ‘Samaj, Shakti, Sangam’ being held at Vidyapith.” The statement mentioned that the event is part of RSS’ centenary year celebrations and such events are being held across the state. “Years ago Vishwa Samvad Kendra (media wing of RSS) held Narad Jayanti at Karma Café run by Navjivan Trust (set up by Gandhi)…Gandhi also attended an RSS camp in Vardha and praised it,” the statement said.
