Introducing a course keeping one religion in mind is against secularism

Criticism against the Administration of Savitribai Phule Pune Vidyapith (University) for Introducing Post-graduate Diploma Course in ‘Temple Management’

Pune – The Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) is introducing a postgraduate diploma course in ‘Temple Management’. It is a six months course, covering topics on skills required for professionally managing temples; social, economic and cultural aspects of temple management, etc. Admissions for this course will be started from February at SPPU’s Nashik campus while admissions at Pune will start from June. Eminent personalities in the education field have criticised the decision of SPPU administration as introducing a course keeping a certain religion in mind is against the secularism and ‘sarva-dharma-sama-bhav’ principles promoted in the Constitution in a country like India, with 140 crore population and 121 languages, 270 colloquial languages, 461 communities and many religions and sects. (Please note that in a secular country, funds are given to madarasas on the basis of religion, but these secularists always keep mum. – Editor)

SPPU has signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ‘Temple Connect’ organisation for the temple management course; but is it the job of a university to spread and propagate Dharma ? There are different organisations  working for it. It is quite ridiculous and condemnable that the Government feels that by teaching such a course, the youth would get jobs by performing ‘puja’ etc., mocked the secularists. (Muslims have a right to run madarasas teaching ‘Quran’ and Christians have a right to run convent schools teaching Bible; then, why should there be opposition to teaching Hindu culture, temple management, ‘Veda’ and ‘Upanishads’ ? Why should there be a double-standard under the guise of secularism ? – Editor)  

Mr Dilip Singh Vishwakarma, the President of Maharashtra State Parents’ Association stated that the association openly condemned the one-sided decision of SPPU.

Editorial Perspectives

• The so-called secularists start making hue and cry whenever any subject is introduced related to Hindu Dharma alleging it to cause harm to secularism; however, the same people feel nothing wrong with teaching Islam in madarasa or Bible in convent schools or it is against secularism, which is very unfortunate.
• These people feel teaching Hindu traditions, spiritual science and management skills is harmful for the Constitution; then, how is education of other religions considered as approved under the Constitution ?   
• Why is there objection only to Hindu Dharma in the name of secularism ?