An absurd protest at BHU (Mint)

Mains Paper 1: Society
Prelims level: Banaras Hindu University
Mains level: Communalism, Regionalism, Secularism

Context

•  Over the years, BHU lived by Malaviya’s ideals, but recent developments at the famed university should worry us all.
•  Some students of its Sanskrit Literature department have been protesting the appointment of a Muslim as one of its faculty members.

Background:

•  In 1916, Madan Mohan Malaviya established what is now known as Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1916.
•  They argue that adherents of the Islamic faith should not be allowed to enter the department building.
•  In support of this stance, they point to a plaque purportedly installed by Malaviya that says “non-Aryans" are not allowed in.
•  As a result, the department has held no classes since the man who’s the focus of their ire was appointed on 6 November.

Reasons behind the protest are called an outright shame:

•  It’s a violation of the Constitution to discriminate against anyone on the basis of his caste or religion.
•  BHU, like any other university, is governed by the rules of the University Grants Commission, and the professor in question has been appointed as per the criteria laid down for such appointments.
•  He holds a doctorate in Sanskrit Literature and has been awarded by the Rajasthan government for his scholarship.

Conclusion

•  Literature is literature, and Sanskrit is a classical language that’s open to anybody who wants to study or teach it. Its “Aryan" association is irrelevant.
•  The protesting students need only go back and read the Rigveda in order to shed their misgivings.
•  The classic text in Sanskrit says: Aah no bhadraah kartavyo yantu viswatah. Let noble thoughts come to us from every side.

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General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q1. With reference to the ethanol from B-heavy molasses, consider the following statements:
1. Separate environmental clearance is required to produce additional ethanol from B-heavy molasses.
2. Molasses is a viscous product resulting from refining sugarcane or sugar beets into sugar.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: B
Mains Questions:
Q1. Do you think the recent protest in BHU is not holding the values set by the founder Madan Mohan Malaviya? Critically comment.