JNU has been at the centre of student protests against "attempts to muzzle free speech" on campuses, prompting Opposition parties to allege that "public intolerance was rising" in the country.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) will soon introduce a specialised National Cadet Corps (NCC) training on its campus, the latest in a string of moves initiated to promote nationalism among students.
Headquarterd in New Delhi, the NCC is a tri-service organisation — comprising the Army, the Navy and the Air Force — engaged in grooming India's youth into disciplined and patriotic citizens.
The central university says the latest move aims is to instil "patriotic commitment" among students and spread awareness about the contributions of India's defence forces in nation-building.
JNU has been at the centre of student protests against "attempts to muzzle free speech" on campuses, prompting Opposition parties to allege that "public intolerance was rising" in the country.
While NCC training exists in other central universities such as Delhi University, it is being implemented by JNU for the first time.
Both male and female students of undergraduate, postgraduate and research courses will get training.
The cadets are normally given basic military training in small arms and parades. The officers and cadets have no liability for active military service once they complete their course, but are given preference over normal candidates during selections based on the achievements in the corps.
"A-level training will be given to undergraduate students, while B-level training will be for postgraduate students. It will be more technical for postgraduate students," said Budhha Singh, chairperson of a three-member NCC committee and an assistant professor at JNU.
"We are also roping in the School of Computer and System Sciences at JNU to impart technical training to students," he said.
"We are already in talks with the NCC, which is also keen to start a wing on our campus with immediate effect," a senior official said, adding students have already started coming up with requests to join the NCC.
Earlier on Sunday, JNU Vice-Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar triggered a debate on "nationalism" after he requested Union Minister and former Army Chief VK Singh to help bring an Army tank on the campus to instil patriotism among students. The move came after more than 2,000 members of the JNU community carried a 2,200ft-long tricolour to commemorate the Army's victory in the 1999 Kargil conflict.
"It will change JNU's image that was marred by the February 9 (2016) incident when anti-national slogans were raised on the campus. The war tank that can also be used by students during their NCC training," said Singh, a right-wing ideologue.
JNU is also the first university to set up a 'wall of heroes' on its campus, displaying the photographs of 21 Param Veer Chakra award winners under the title 'Our Heroes'. It will also install a life-sized statue of Swami Vivekananda on the campus to make students aware of his contributions in nation-building.
Kumar's statement, however, did not go down well with his predecessor Sudhir Kumar Sopory, who said that there are more pressing academic issues on the campus that should be taken up with the government.
Meanwhile, a section of right-inclined faculty members have invited former Bastar IG SRP Kalluri for an event to be organised on the coming Independence Day on the campus. "We have invited Kalluri due to his immense contribution in fighting Naxalism in Chhattisgarh," said Singh.
The move is expected to spark a fresh round of student agitation at JNU. Earlier in May, Kalluri's visit to IIMC drew criticism from a section of JNU students who also staged protests against the move.
Doses of Nationalism
V-C also wants an Army tank on campus to instil a sense of nationalism among students.
JNU is the first university to display photos of Param Veer Chakra award winners on campus.
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