University of Mumbai students up in arms against 'pujas' on campus

A students group at the University of Mumbai has recently written to the chancellor against the organising of Satyanarayan Puja at the varsity's Kalina campus. In a letter addressed to the the Chancellor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, members of the Satyashodhak, a student organisation, have raised concerns over the organisation of religious rituals in the university campus, which is supposed to be home to 'rational' and 'scientific' thinking.

The varsity's non-teaching staff had arranged a Satyanarayan Puja at the Mahatma Phule Bhavan on February 10 after which students protested the move. "A university is supposed to be a secular space where rituals pertaining to a particular religion should not be enforced on everyone. Especially in a building that is named after Mahatma Phule, conducting such events which have no practical significance is not a good idea," said Disha Pinki Sheikh, an activist who took up the issue. Sheikh claims that the varsity organises at least 6 pujas across different departments and sections in a year.

Sheikh cited a circular from January 4, issued by the Maharashtra government, imposing a ban on the display of religious pictures or texts and/or the celebration of religious festivals and pujas in all government and semi-government offices and educational institutions in the state.

"As students, all of us are extremely uncomfortable with the use of an educational institute for such a purpose. At a time when the university is grappling with so many real issues, so many staff members putting their day into this is unprofessional too," said Deepali Tendolkar from the Satyashodhak Vidyarthi Sanghatana.

Despite repeated calls and messages, Dr Devanand Shinde, VC, University of Mumbai could not be reached for a comment.