In a shocking move, the University Grants Commission has asked Maharashtra colleges to encourage students’ participation in the birthday celebrations of the RSS-ABVP Dattaji Didolkar, who was the late founder member of the ABVP, according to the Indian Express. The Akhil Bharatya Vidyarthi Parishad is the student-wing of the ruling party, Bharatiya Janata Party.
In a circular dated November 21, the UGC discussed the “inspirational legacy” of Dattaji Didolkar and talked about his role as the founder of numerous social and other organisations and called him “an inspiration to thousands of students.” The UGC announced that 2023 marks the birth centenary year of Dattaji Didolkar and talked of plans for various programs scheduled from August 7, 2023, to August 7, 2024, in commemoration of the ABVP founder. The circular directed higher education institutions in Maharashtra to actively promote and engage the state’s youth and students in the planned centenary celebrations.
The UGC also referred to a letter by Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Highways of India, to Dharmendra Pradhan, who is the Union minister for Education, where Gadkari has highlighted about the need for programmes being organised to commemorate Didolkar and plans of publishing a book on him.
According to the report, the Yuva Sena, which is the Shiva Sena’s youth wing, has registered its dissent over this move by the UGC and demanded its withdrawal.
Pradeep Sawant, former Mumbai University Senate member from the Yuva Sena, has stated they are not against celebrating birth centenaries, “But it should be done by the political party and RSS with their own funds. It should not be imposed on colleges and universities. The programme is going to be held in Nagpur. Then why are letters issued to all higher education institutions in Maharashtra?”
Furthermore, head of the ABVP Konkan region talking about the alleged contribution of Didolkar, Amit Dhomse, has stated that, “Dattaji Didolkar has made great contributions in social and education fields. He was at the forefront of the struggle for the construction of the Vivekananda Memorial. Celebrating the birth centenary year of such social activists has been our culture. Yuva Sena should study the educational and social contribution of Didolkar without bringing politics into anything.”
In recent times, there has been growing concern over the government led inclusion of right-wing RSS figures as part of school and college syllabus. In June, 2023, the Madhya Pradesh government had revealed plans about introducing Savarkar Damodar as part of a school syllabus by including a whole chapter on him. Savarkar is known to be a hardline figure and is a revered ideologue of the Hindutva movement.
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