This story is from May 25, 2016

Uproar over mystery Shiva lingam at University of Hyderabad

A day after two Buddhist monks were denied entry into the University of Hyderabad (UoH), a fresh row with religious overtones erupted on campus with a Shiva lingam and Nandi structure being noticed for the first time on the garden outside the varsity main gate.
Uproar over mystery Shiva lingam at University of Hyderabad
Problem of faith: Shiva lingam and Nandi structure outside the main gate of UoH.
Hyderabad: A day after two Buddhist monks were denied entry into the University of Hyderabad (UoH), a fresh row with religious overtones erupted on campus with a Shiva lingam and Nandi structure being noticed for the first time on the garden outside the varsity main gate.
With professors, who have been in the university for years, unaware of when and who put up the structure, a section of students alleged that the chance discovery gave credence to allegations of ‘Brahmanical hegemony’ on campus.
The controversy has surfaced days after university authorities sought dismantling of unauthorised structures and tents on campus, a move that was seen by many as a threat to the Velivada or dalit ghetto, where research scholar Rohtih Vemula spent his last days.
The existence of the Shiva lingam and Nandi structure came to light on Monday. Once the Buddhist monks were denied entry on campus, nearly 50 students along with professors marked Buddha Jayanthi outside the university gate. It was then that they chanced upon the lingam.
“We were in for a rude shock as soon as we saw the religious structure installed right outside the main gate. We were not aware of any such structure before. While the university is targeting the Rohith stupa and the Velivada, this structure goes to shows what’s happening on campus,” said Arpita Jaya, a key member of the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice, who has been in the university for nearly a decade.
With the Constitution stating that all government institutions must remain secular, the discovery of the rel igious structure created a stir among students. Hardly 200 metres away from the main gate, the structure appears to be prima facie outside the university, but is on the garden maintained by the varsity.
Speaking about the matter, said Sripathi Ramadu, spokesperson of SC/ST Teachers’ Forum on campus, said, “There has been a lot of renovation work going on inside and outside the university premises for some time now. The structure seems to be a recent phenomenon as I have been in the university since 2009 and I don’t remember seeing any such ‘Shivling and Nandi’ outside the campus gate till now.”

When contacted, even the univers i ty admini s trat ion appeared to be baffled about the religious structure. “Being a public functionary, we have to uphold the Constitution. So when the Preamble states that the country is secular, nothing related to religion should take place on the campus. Even a photograph of God is not allowed. In personal residences, people are allowed to follow their own religion. I will enquire about this structure and who built it and will take a call accordingly,” said M Sudhakar, registrar of UoH.
It may be recalled that a few years back, some Muslim students had erected fences to perform prayers on campus on Friday. Taking a cue, a representation was submitted by a few Sikh students to also build a Gurdwara on campus. The university authorities had then instructed the concerned Muslim students to remove the fencing and all religious structures were banned on campus.
Meanwhile, on Monday night, JAC members burnt copies of the order issued by the VC which advised students’ union to remove unauthorised tents on campus. Students re-established the tents as they intensified protests against the administration.
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