BHU starts course on Hindu Studies

VARANASI: The Banaras Hindu University inaugurated its firstever course in Hindu Studies on Tuesday. The first batch of 45 students in the postgraduate programme, MA in Hindu Studies, was welcomed by Rector Prof VK Shukla.

It is the first such course being offered by any university in the country. Rector Prof Shukla inaugurated the course during a programme organised in hybrid mode. He said that the course is an interdisciplinary programme, which is in line with New Education Policy (NEP)-2020.

He added that it was a matter of great pride for BHU that the course is being conducted at Bharat Adhyayan Kendra, a centre established in the centenary year of the university.

Addressing the programme, Dr Vijay Shankar Shukla, Director, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, underlined the need to have a course on Hindu Studies.

He said the idea behind this course goes back to 18th-century scholar Pt Ganganath Jha and travels through time to Mahamana. However, the link was broken for some reason. But, with the initiation of this course, the goal appears to have been achieved.

Prof Kamlesh Dutt Tripathi, chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha, and centenary chair professor, Bharat Adhyayan Kendra, who chaired the programme, underlined the values and mantra of unity that is core to the Hindu Dharma.

Prof Malini Awasthi, centenary chair professor, Bharat Adhyayan Kendra, called upon the scholars to preserve the Sanatana Parampara. Centenary chair professor Prof Rakesh Upadhyaya and Prof Yugal Kishore Mishra spoke about the various aspects of the course.HTC