Mysuru: A conclave to mark 60 years of the lectures of RSS ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya at the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) campus here has now snowballed into a major faceoff between the Karnataka govt and Raj Bhavan. On Tuesday, the state govt had said it had scrapped the three-day conference, claiming the objective of the private event was against the goals of the university and protocols laid down by the govt. However, in open defiance to that diktat, KSOU went ahead with the three-day conference, with Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot attending the session Wednesday, which was inaugurated by Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan via a video conference. The conclave on ‘Ekatma Manav Darshan: Bharat’s Worldview’ is being held at the KSOU convocation hall in Muktagangotri. While vice-chancellor Sharanappa V Halase presided over the inaugural day’s event, several senior KSOU functionaries were conspicuous by their absence. The organisers of the conference claimed they had challenged the govt order to cancel the programme in high court and secured an interim relief. “Petitioners including Preetesh Jain of NGO Parivartan, Dr Punith Raj of Prajna Pravah and Madan Gopal of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation had moved court, following which, Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum stayed the govt order and directed the authorities not to interfere with the conference,” they said. However, this claim of a court relief could not be independently verified by TOI. Despite earlier informing the govt it had no formal association with the event, attendees said KSOU had allowed organisers to use its name and logo in publicity material for the conference.Commenting on the conference, Vice-President Radhakrishnan said: “The vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 embodies the ideals of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s Ekatma Manav Darshan, which offers a path to harmony through ‘dharma’.” Hailing ‘Ekatma Manav Darshan’ as “not merely a philosophical concept, but the very foundation of India’s culture, thought and way of life”, Governor Gehlot described Upadhyaya as a visionary thinker whose ideas are still relevant. Suttur Mutt seer Shivaratri Deshikendra Swami said despite early hardships, Upadhyaya remained committed to national consciousness and social service. Meanwhile, state BJP president B Y Vijayendra accused the Congress govt of hate politics and political interference in an academic event. “They are even obstructing an event being held at a university. Such political interference in education isn’t good. This govt has brought a Bill against hate speech, but action must be taken against the govt [for promoting hate],” he said.
