Hansraj College, one of the most prestigious colleges of Delhi University, known for its high cut-offs and brilliant academic and energetic atmosphere. The college gave rise to personalities including Shahrukh Khan, Anurag Kashyap, and many more who are famous all around the world. Recently, the college is in controversy over the cow research centre that has been opened in the Hansraj college complex. The Swami Dayanand Saraswati Cow Protection Research Centre was constructed two months ago inside the Delhi University Institution. The students are accusing the authorities of giving the land that was allocated for the construction of the girl’s hostel to the cow protection and research centre. Student organizations have claimed that the authorities have relocated the land that was identified for the construction of the girl’s hostel to the cow protection and research centre.
Dr Rama Sharma, the principal of Hansraj College, has denied the allegations that are being made and said that the construction of the research centre has nothing to do with the hostel land. She also mentioned that the centre has been constructed for research purposes, and that the opening of the centre would make the college self-sufficient in dairy products. In one of the interviews, she said, “We follow Arya Samaj, and once a month, the college conducts havans, for which products like ghee and cow dung are required,” she added. She also mentioned that the college authorities are contemplating building it further and encouraging research on aspects of cows and providing milk and curd to the students.
Although Dr Rama has refuted the claims, which are terming the centre as a “cow protection centre”. She asserted, “It is not a cow protection centre. Had it been a cow protection centre then why would we keep only one cow? It has been named “Swami Dayanand Gau Samvardhan Evam Anusandhan Kendra.”
Hansraj College is saying that this is sort of a pilot project and that this project will create more opportunities in the research field in the future. The college authorities have also formed a separate committee for the management of the research centre. Dr Gaurav of the physical education department has been appointed the coordinator of the committee.
Dr Gaurav held this would “prepare evidence-based research on the gau dhan.”
Dr Rama called the construction of a girl’s hostel in the college her “dream project” and asserted that one site of the college premises was identified for the construction of a girl’s hostel, but for some technical reasons, it was later rejected.
Samaa, president of the college’s Students’ Federation of India (SFI) unit said that during the global pandemic, the administration asked the students for full fees even though most of the families weren’t financially stable at that time, and when the colleges were shut for more than 2 years, the authorities built a full-fledged gaushala without having any conversation with the student community. In the statement released by the Student Federation of India, “it is terribly difficult to find safe and affordable housing. The facility of a hostel on the campus — especially for scholarship or reservation students who may get some concessions — is the best option to pursue their academics”.
The left-leaning student organizations have alleged the institution of motivating the Hindutva agenda by allocating the girl’s hostel land to the cow research project.
“We find it disgusting that our college administration prioritizes the ‘protection and promotion’ of cows instead of struggling female students whose interests are being side-lined for such an absurd decision,” the SFI unit of Delhi University said in one of its statements.
AISA (All India Student Association) has accused the administration of overlooking the interests of female students and prioritizing cows over them. The students are demanding the immediate repeal of the decision and want the authorities to take appropriate steps for the construction of the girl’s hotel on the college premises.
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