Lucknow: Banaras Hindu University will soon begin teaching the Vedas as a science, with the Yogi Adityanath cabinet deciding on Tuesday to open a "Vedic Vigyan Kendra (Vedic Science Centre)" there.
A state government can request a central university, which Banaras Hindu University happens to be, to allow it to open a study centre on its campus. If the university accepts the suggestion, the government must fund the construction and the operation of the centre.
It's not clear whether the centre will offer short certificate courses or whether its Veda courses will be incorporated in the university's regular undergraduate or postgraduate programmes.
Adityanath was quoted as telling the cabinet meeting that the centre would teach the Vedas as "vibrant ancient science".
According to the state information department, the centre will promote "Vedic literature, knowledge and science, Vedic philosophy and tradition".
Among the many achievements of "ancient Indian science" are the theories of Aryabhatta, surgical innovations of Sushruta and the invention of the decimal system, but the Vedas are not usually included in the list.
Another rarity is that the state department of religious affairs will run the "science" centre, for which the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday approved a sum of Rs 803 lakh.
The move comes days after the junior education minister at the Centre, Satyapal Singh, derided Charles Darwin's theory of evolution because "no one has ever seen a monkey turn into a man" and suggested that school textbooks should be amended.
The BJP has for the past few years been accused of pushing a "Hindutva agenda" at Banaras Hindu University, located in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency of Varanasi.
JNU too has begun teaching certificate courses on the Vedas and Yogic philosophy.
"The Vedas are certainly philosophical texts but trying to establish them as a science is absurd," said state Congress spokesperson Dwijendra Tripathi.
Banaras Hindu University has been in the spotlight recently over news such as the then vice-chancellor's alleged shaming of a student victim of sexual harassment, and a police baton charge on protesting female students.
The university bars its girl students from leaving their hostels after 6pm, and denies them non-vegetarian food.
Tripathi asked why the government wasn't probing the "more than 20 appointments of assistant professors and other teachers and staff without required qualification" at the university.
"Former vice-chancellor G.C. Tripathi admitted in his farewell speech last month that he had appointed undeserving candidates," he said.
