Kerala body wants exam on cow science scrapped
The Kerala SasthraSahithya Parishad has sought to cancel the national-levelvoluntary online exam on gau vigyan (cow science), sayingit was an attempt to spread superstition and to saffronisethe education sector in the country.
The parishad, a progressive outfit in the state conceivedas a peoples science movement, asked civil society todisregard a recent directive issued to all Vice-Chancellorsby the University Grants Commission (UGC) to encouragestudents to take up the exam organised by Rashtriya KamdhenuAayog (RKA).
The Central government had, on January 5, announced thegau vigyan to be held on February 25 in a bid to generateinterest among students and general public about the nativebreed of cow and its benefits.
“Its condemnable and shocking that the UGC, an apexbody of university education in the country, is encouragingthe students to take part in an exam based on an unscientifictext full of blunders,” the Parishad said in a press release.
The Aayog had said the syllabus of the objective modelexam would be recommended on the website of the RKA.
The parishad said there are so many nonsensical claims onthe website which does not have any scientific backing.
“The website contains claims that there are traces of goldin the milk of indigenous cows due to which its milk has alight yellowish tint. It also says the cows milk protectshumans from nuclear radiations and many more,” the parishadsaid.
The parishad pointed out that the Article 51A (h) of theConstitution of India says it shall be the duty of everycitizen to develop the scientific temper, humanism and thespirit of inquiry and reform.
“Its a disgrace that a government agency in acountrywith a Constitution, which emphasis on scientificawareness, was associating in spreading superstitiouspropaganda,” the organisation said.
The parishad, in a statement, said the move was part of aconcerted effort to saffronise the countrys educationalprocess, which is supposed to be secular and scientificallybased.
“This will embarrass Indian universities and the educationsystem before the world,” it said.
The parishad asked the UGC to withdraw its letter to theuniversities and cancel the examination.
The RKA had said the exam would infuse curiosity into allIndians about cows and make them aware of the unexploredpotential and business opportunities a cow can offer, evenafter it stops giving milk.
The RKA, which comes under the Ministry of Fisheries,Animal Husbandry and Dairying, was set up by the Centre inFebruary 2019 and is aimed at conservation, protection anddevelopment of cows and their progeny.
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