Now selfie points will be made in the university, UGC directs to share selfie in Modi’s background

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all universities and colleges in the country to set up a selfie point on the campus ahead of the general elections to be held in the country next year. It has been said in the instructions that the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has to be kept in the background of the selfie point.

As per the UGC directive, the campus authorities have been asked not only to install selfie points but also to encourage and motivate students and visitors to take selfies at the selfie points and share them on media platforms. That is, the UGC has virtually ordered universities and colleges to become unofficial propagandists of the BJP.

In fact, the UGC has banned PM Modi’s background selfies from being circulated on social media to make “India’s achievements in various fields” a topic of discussion across the country during the Modi government’s tenure and thus “foster a sense of collective pride.” Have been asked to do. But the real question is whether India has actually achieved such achievements in various fields that deserve to be discussed. Secondly, when India has achieved many achievements in various fields, then how did those achievements remain in the eyes of the country’s public, journalists, students, youth and people of different sections of the society?

Many academics accused the UGC of involving academic institutions in a race to “create the aura of a particular individual” which should have “nothing to do with them”.

A letter from UGC secretary Manish Joshi, sent to vice-chancellors of all Indian universities and principals of all colleges on Friday, said there was a need to “harness the energy and enthusiasm of the youth, to sharpen their minds and take inspiration from India’s progress in various fields.” It is a unique opportunity.”

It is written in the letter that come! Let us celebrate and spread the word about the incredible progress our country has made by setting up a ‘Selfie Point’ within your institution. ‘Selfie Point’ aims to create awareness among the youth about India’s achievements in various fields, especially the new initiatives under the National Education Policy 2020.

The letter said: “You are requested to encourage students and visitors to capture and share these special moments on social media platforms, promoting a sense of collective pride.”

UGC has suggested various designs for selfie points. Each design is dedicated to a particular theme, such as Internationalization of Education, Unity in Diversity, Smart India Hackathon, Indian Knowledge System, Multilingualism, India’s rise in higher education, research and innovation.

While suggesting universities to install selfie points at important and strategic places on the campus, UGC said that the selfie point should have a 3D layout.

Professors and academicians of many universities of the country are angry with this order of UGC. Most of the teachers say that efforts are being made to give credit only to the Prime Minister for every important and general achievement of the country. The media, advertisements, inaugurations and the hard work of PM Modi behind the launch and completion of every scheme are being shown.

Whatever is happening everywhere in the country is being publicized to create an ‘aura’ of a person. The government is using public institutions for personal publicity.

Several professors from renowned universities of the country, on the condition of anonymity, said that “there is no provision in the law that gives the government or the UGC the right to ask educational institutions to promote such propaganda.”

An academician said photographs of the Prime Minister were circulated through multiple channels, including those of Covid vaccine certificates. Selfie points have been set up at job fairs, where newly appointed government employees—or promoted serving employees—have to stand in front of Modi cut-outs and get photographs clicked.

“A very strong impression is being created that only one leader is responsible for all these activities,” said a professor. “This is being done keeping the elections in mind to mislead innocent voters.”

A faculty member of Jawaharlal Nehru University said that Selfie Point is a place to nurture diverse ideas in the university. But if any one idea or person is being promoted then it is in compromise with the long-term interests of the university or institution.

A professor said the UGC keeps issuing such circulars but the campus administration is free to ignore them. Educational institutions should not heed such advice. Which asks the organization to become a sycophant of some leader.