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RSS meet in JNU on autonomy in education

Right-wing educationists have long believed that left-liberal form of autonomy has acted to perpetuate a certain ideology and thus failed, as they allege, in campuses such as JNU.

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After a Sanskrit fest, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is set to challenge the hitherto held notion of educational autonomy in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Right-wing educationist Dinanath Batra-led Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas (SSUN) will be holding a two-day conclave on February 23 and 24 in JNU on ancient forms of autonomy in education in India and thrash out the models existing in modern institutions, an obvious reference to JNU.

Right-wing educationists have long believed that left-liberal form of autonomy has acted to perpetuate a certain ideology and thus failed, as they allege, in campuses such as JNU.

The conclave titled: 'Shiksha ki Swyatata: Chunautiyan aur Samadhan' (Autonomy of Education: Challenges and Solutions) is being organised in association with Ambedkar University in Delhi.

In an obvious criticism of the guide-scholar system of research that is prevalent in JNU, the event brochure said: "The significance of autonomy of education has been recognised in ancient India and has always been seen in some form or the other. The ancient practice of gurukul is a good example of this. Today, usually education is seen in terms of teacher-taught relation, but it is related to society, administration, societal institutions and parents."

Atul Kothari, co-convenor of 'Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti' and general secretary of SSUN, who was also the former general secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), believes that hitherto models of autonomy of education have miserably failed, warranting the search for new ones emanating from the Hindu culture.

"Total and holistic autonomy was there in our ancient times in India. In gurukuls and varsities there was no political intervention in terms of syllabus etc. The 'acharyas' and 'gurus' decided what and how to teach. Kings had nothing to do with it, despite granting money and grants for institutions even though they were not obligated to do so. The same cannot be done today, but we need to get the inspiration from the concept and try to thrash out a way to implement it," Kothari said.

"We shall discuss what comprises autonomy and the facets of it — such as economic and administrative as well as a vision of autonomy in totality. Does autonomy mean that such is given by government? Is the principal or head of the institution giving autonomy to teachers? Teachers to students? Parents to their kids freedom to chose their subjects? That is what needs to be thought about as partial and skewed autonomy will harm than help," Kothari said.

Apart from JNU a number of other varsities and colleges from around the country have extended their support to the meet including, Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR) and Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).

Event details

The conclave titled ‘Shiksha ki Swyatata: Chunautiyan aur Samadhan’ will be held on Feb 23 and 24 in JNU.

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