Four universities to set up chair to promote Deendayal Upadhayaya’s ideals

An expert committee has recommended four central universities for instituting a chair to promote the ideals of Pandit Deendayal Upadhayaya, one of the founders of Bharatiya Jan Sangh, according to the minutes of a University Grants Commission (UGC) meeting.

Three varsities have also been recommended for a chair in the name of Arya Samaj founder Swami Dayanand Saraswati, according to the minutes of the meeting held on January 10-11. The committee has also recommended creating chairs in the names of Vardhman Mahavir for Jain studies and Dr Verghese Kurien for rural development, based on a proposal from the HRD ministry.

Central University of Himachal Pradesh, University of Jammu in Jammu & Kashmir, Alagappa University in Karaikuddi, Tamil Nadu, and North Maharashtra University in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, are the universities selected for the Deen Dayal Upadhayay chair. Eighteen proposals were received from various universities for the chair, according to the minutes.

Maharishi Dayanand University in Rohtak, Haryana, Saurashtra University in Rajkot, Gujarat, and Central University Jammu got the nod for the Dayanand Saraswati chair from nine proposals received. A senior UGC official said funds will be allocated to the above universities as per the commission’s guidelines.