Pune varsity has veg only rule for gold medal

PUNE: Now, Pune University to give gold medals to only vegetarians and teetotallers?

Students have to, rightly, scale great heights to achieve academic excellence. And at some institutions the academic heights they are made to scale are enough to make students dizzy. But that’s part and parcel of the academic experience. Unfortunately, there is a university in India that is looking to make sure that the pursuit of academic happiness is limited to a certain ‘type’ of student.

Pune University has recently announced a new criterion for students who will be considered eligible to receive gold medals for academic excellence.

The list of criteria released by Savitribai Phule Pune University for Keertankar Shelar Mama Gold Medal states that only students who are vegetarians and teetotallers will be considered for receiving the award.

The list states that the student should be a proponent of Indian culture and ethics, not be addicted to any substance or thing, follow yoga and do the pranayama, be devoted to social causes, have donated blood and must excel in Indian sports.

The candidates who are applicable for the gold medal have until November 15 to send in their applications.

The news led to an uproar on social media.

Reacting to the news, NCP leader and MP Supriya Sule tweeted saying that she was shocked by this new rule implemented by an institution as reputed as Pune University.