A circular issued by the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) on a gold medal to be awarded only to students who are strictly vegetarian and without “addictions” or “bad habits” has kicked up a storm of controversy among students and social outfits, who have termed the prize downright “discriminatory” and “deeply regressive”.
The notification, issued by the varsity on October 31, has called for ‘eligible’ students across colleges affiliated to the SPPU apply for the gold medal till November 15.
The medal is named after Ramchandra Gopal Shelar, also known as Shelar Mama, a centurion who was ostensibly a noted kirtan singer, a yoga exponent steeped in spirituality and the traditions of the Hindu religion.
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According to sources, a cash prize of ₹1 lakh is presented to the deserving candidate along with the medal. The prize is given alternately each year to a student from the science and humanities field.
However, the prize carries certain rigid clauses which are proving to be highly contentious among students, especially the condition on ‘vegetarianism’ which students have dubbed “ludicrous”.
Protests were witnessed on the university premises, with a number of students burning copies of the controversial notification.
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“The conditions stipulated are not merely bizarre or laughable, but downright offensive and discriminatory. They have nothing to do with a student’s merit or academic excellence,” said Kuldeep Ambekar, a student from the Ranade Institute.
Further conditions emphasise that the deserving candidate must have an affinity with Indian culture, tradition and its thought and practice.
Other criteria for the medal stipulate an excellence in sports and a strong emphasis on social work. While some of the points seem reasonable, many are offended by the clause on vegetarianism and adherence to Hindu tradition.
“How is the varsity approving such rules for a gold medal? The rules imply that a Muslim or Christian student, who is meritorious and deserving, is not eligible,” said Vaibhav Nimgire, who is pursuing his masters from Fergusson College.
The varsity administration categorically denied having to do anything with formulating rules, while drawing attention to the fact that the gold medal has been awarded annually since 2006.
“It is the trust which sponsors the prize that has made these rules. We have nothing to do with it. The applications are being put up year after year,” said Dr. Arvind Shaligram, registrar, SPPU.
“The point here is why the Pune University is endorsing such regressive prizes? Who is this obscure Shelar Mama and why continue with a prize instituted by his trust? We demand that the Vice-Chancellor withdraw it immediately,” said advocate Mandar Joshi, student leader of the RPI (A)’s youth wing.
A number of students groups have intimated varsity authorities that they would embark on a protest and submitted a memorandum to the V-C, Dr. Nitin Karmalkar, exhorting him to discontinue the practice of awarding the medal.