Shimla (Kameshwar Sharma): A controversy has erupted at Himachal Pradesh University over an academic session organized by the Department of Public Administration on April 23, 2026, focusing on the life and teachings of Jyotiba Phule.
The issue escalated after the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) allegedly gheraoed department officials and raised objections on social media, claiming that religious sentiments were hurt during the session. However, students of the Public Administration Department have strongly denied these allegations.
The students submitted a memorandum to the Dean of Studies, stating that the claims being circulated in certain media sections are misleading, baseless, and strongly condemnable. They asserted that they were personally present during the session, which they described as purely academic, intellectually stimulating, and conducted within a framework of open discussion.
According to the students, portraying the session as offensive to religious sentiments is a misrepresentation of facts and a deliberate distortion, which undermines the core values of higher education.
They emphasized that universities are spaces for free thought, debate, and academic exchange, and any attempt to influence academic activities through misinformation or external pressure is condemnable. The students have also demanded strict action against ABVP for allegedly misrepresenting the session.
Further, they cautioned that political interference in academic institutions is unacceptable and may adversely affect the autonomy of universities. They urged the administration not to take hasty decisions based on unverified claims, as it could endanger academic freedom.
The students reiterated their strong commitment to rational thinking, constitutional values, and academic independence, rejecting any attempts to escalate such controversies within the campus.
