IIT Delhi chant dispute widens secularism debate

A controversy has emerged surrounding the Sanskrit recitation at IIT Delhi’s 57th Convocation, which has broadened into a debate on secularism and the place of religious symbolism in publicly funded educational institutions. Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed questioned the inclusion of what she described as the Gayatri Mantra, leading to a shift in focus from whether the religious chant was appropriate for an academic event to the actual verses recited.

IIT Kanpur alumnus Gyan C Mehta, a 1968 Physics graduate, challenged the identification of the verses as the Gayatri Mantra, stating they were actually passages from the Shikshavalli, a section of the Taittiriya Upanishad. This distinction complicated the debate, which initially centered on secularism and the role of religious symbolism in state-funded institutions.

The August 8 ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, featured the recitation during ceremonial proceedings, prompting commentary on social media. The Sanskrit recitation, one of the best-known Vedic verses, was recited in the context of an educational institution, with defenders arguing that it was connected to an older tradition emphasizing ethical guidance for students.

Critics, however, maintain that the text remains a sacred Hindu philosophical work, suggesting caution when incorporating religious materials into official ceremonies. The dispute has broadened to question the role of religious and cultural traditions in university ceremonies, as well as the potential for students to be instructed to bow before the head of state during convocation events.