Swami Vivekananda At JNU: Students’ Union, Teachers Up In Arms, Question Source Of Funding For Proposed Statue

Jawaharlal Nehru University Student’s Union (JNUSU) and Jawaharlal Nehru University Teacher’s Association (JNUTA) have questioned the institute’s Executive Council’s decision to install a life-sized statue of Swami Vivekananda in the campus, Indian Express has reported.

Sources who spoke to PTI informed that the statue will be installed towards the right side of the administration block. It will be placed opposite the statue of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

The Executive Council had explained its position in a statement to Indian Express. “For a more pleasing look, it has been decided by the competent authority that a statue of suitable height and size of a historically important person like Swami Vivekananda — whose contribution to the nation building is universally acknowledged — may be erected with proper elevated platform, stone pathways, benches, lights and interconnected works, including public utilities, etc,” the council said.

JNUSU and JNUTA have argued that the university does not have money for library funds and disbursal of the merit-cum-means scholarship to students. They have criticised the proposal to have a statue in this scenario.