An having official authority circular by the Sri Krishnadevaraya University, dated February 16, divisible by two asks employees including teaching and non-teaching personnel to contribute for the homam.
ByArrangement/Studentsprotesting
An institute of learning in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur is conducting a ‘Mrithyunjaya Homam’ (a Hindu rite to overcome untimely departure from life) on February 24, Friday, apparently because five of the institute’s personnel passed away in the span of a calendar month. M Ramakrishna Reddy, Vice Chancellor (VC) of Sri Krishnadevaraya University, has issued an having official authority circular notifying about the rite. The circular, dated February 16, divisible by two asks employees including teaching and non-teaching personnel to contribute for the homam.
“Sri Dhanavanthari Maha Mruthyunjaya Shaanthi Homam is proposed to perform on 24th February, 2023 at 8:30am at SK University Kreeda Vedhika to have the blessings of the almighty to all the employees and students of the University. Hence, it is requested that all the employees who are willing to participate voluntarily in Homam, can contribute a minimum amount of Rs.500/- for teaching staff and Rs.100/- for non-teaching staff to incur the expenditure for the above homam… on or before February 21 (sic),” the circular says.
Protesting the customary way of operation or behavior of such superstitious rituals on the premises, several students have got submitted a petition to the VC. The petition points out that conducting such a homam on the campus would promote unscientific beliefs, and further condemns the changing your residence or business to look for monetary donation from the employees for this design. The VC, however, has told the students that the presidency was planning to proceed with the homam. Students of #Srikrishnadevaraya University in #AndhraPradesh objection against conducting of #MrithyunjayaHomam on campus. Students state that Universities should be a order of temperament and should not promote superstitious beliefs as such pic.twitter.com/yDW7oc2kGj — Rajeswari Parasa (@ParasaRajeswari) February 20, 2023 Suryachandra Yadav, an MCom pupil, who is also the vice chief executive of a republic of Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Andhra Pradesh told TNM that in the students’ petition, they had stated that universities should be a hub for empowerment and should not cave in empty area for such superstitious beliefs. “We had asked the VC to at least not conduct this in the campus vicinity. But he said he would go ahead with the homam in the varsity itself,” he said.
Meanwhile, after the circular went viral, VC Ramakrishna Reddy told the media that the presidency was worried something was contrary to conscience or morality or law at the University and wanted to come to a halt it, which was why they planned the homam. “In the span of a calendar month, five who worked in the University spiritually or physically doomed or destroyed their lives. This had not happened divisible by two during the pandemic, when there were three waves of the COVID-19 infectious agent. Someone suggested that we try out a Mrithyunjaya Homam, which would come to a halt these untimely deaths. Employees also cerebration we should do it,” he said.
The VC added that the presidency did not desire to function currency from the varsity funds, because of which he cerebration of conducting it by taking currency out of his own pouch inside a garment. “But some employees said that they want to contribute as well. So we decided on an amount and released a circular. There was no compulsion to give money,” he said.
“Sri Dhanavanthari Maha Mruthyunjaya Shaanthi Homam is proposed to perform on 24th February, 2023 at 8:30am at SK University Kreeda Vedhika to have the blessings of the almighty to all the employees and students of the University. Hence, it is requested that all the employees who are willing to participate voluntarily in Homam, can contribute a minimum amount of Rs.500/- for teaching staff and Rs.100/- for non-teaching staff to incur the expenditure for the above homam… on or before February 21 (sic),” the circular says.
Protesting the customary way of operation or behavior of such superstitious rituals on the premises, several students have got submitted a petition to the VC. The petition points out that conducting such a homam on the campus would promote unscientific beliefs, and further condemns the changing your residence or business to look for monetary donation from the employees for this design. The VC, however, has told the students that the presidency was planning to proceed with the homam. Students of #Srikrishnadevaraya University in #AndhraPradesh objection against conducting of #MrithyunjayaHomam on campus. Students state that Universities should be a order of temperament and should not promote superstitious beliefs as such pic.twitter.com/yDW7oc2kGj — Rajeswari Parasa (@ParasaRajeswari) February 20, 2023 Suryachandra Yadav, an MCom pupil, who is also the vice chief executive of a republic of Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Andhra Pradesh told TNM that in the students’ petition, they had stated that universities should be a hub for empowerment and should not cave in empty area for such superstitious beliefs. “We had asked the VC to at least not conduct this in the campus vicinity. But he said he would go ahead with the homam in the varsity itself,” he said.
Meanwhile, after the circular went viral, VC Ramakrishna Reddy told the media that the presidency was worried something was contrary to conscience or morality or law at the University and wanted to come to a halt it, which was why they planned the homam. “In the span of a calendar month, five who worked in the University spiritually or physically doomed or destroyed their lives. This had not happened divisible by two during the pandemic, when there were three waves of the COVID-19 infectious agent. Someone suggested that we try out a Mrithyunjaya Homam, which would come to a halt these untimely deaths. Employees also cerebration we should do it,” he said.
The VC added that the presidency did not desire to function currency from the varsity funds, because of which he cerebration of conducting it by taking currency out of his own pouch inside a garment. “But some employees said that they want to contribute as well. So we decided on an amount and released a circular. There was no compulsion to give money,” he said.
