We are beggars, must bring Venkateswara temple to JNU to generate funds: JNU VC

Lack of financial resources compelled the vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, to propose the establishment of a Lord Venkateswara temple at the JNU campus, modeled after the Vishwanath Temple at Banaras Hindu University. Pandit, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, believes that such a temple would generate substantial funds for the institution.

She rebuked JNU historians for misconstruing the order of events and interpretations, claiming they elevated interpretations above facts. Pandit also criticized academic orthodoxies, asserting that universities cannot thrive under a singular ideology dominating academic discourse. She defended IKS against accusations of being a "right-wing project," and contended that it opposes intellectual monopolies such as wokeism and the Left.

Pandit highlighted Indian women's empowerment, citing Draupadi as the first feminist. She emphasized the importance of acknowledging India's maritime achievements and its ancient civilization, urging students to take pride in the nation's past. Pandit defended English as an essential language in science, diplomacy, and technology, but also advocated for strengthening Sanskrit and other Indian languages to prevent English from becoming the sole medium through which India understands itself.