Chhattisgarh journalism university to organise a seminar on Lord Hanuman

In the build up to the two-day international seminar, the university has called research papers on 19 themes related to Lord Hanuman’s ‘attributes’.

Updated on: Sep 5, 2018, 13:51:20 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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A journalism university in Chhattisgarh is set to hold a two-day seminar on Hindu monkey god Hanuman’s attributes although its vice-chancellor distanced himself from the seminar, saying it was not a university event.

File photo of a Hanuman statue in New Delhi. (Image used for representational purpose) (Sanchit Khanna/HT File Photo)

The seminar at Kushabhau Thakre Journalism and Mass Communication University is being conducted by the department of Indology and Heritage Management, which is headed by Ashutosh Mandavi, the state chief of Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), on September 7 and 8.

The department is yet to enrol a student this year as those who had applied were not up to the mark, according to Mandavi.

Hanuman is part of the department’s course work and the department had invited research papers on 19 themes related to Hanuman’s “attributes” such as life management skills, modern and ancient forms of Hanuman, importance of Ram and Ramayana in public life, and Hanuman in Sabar Matras.

“We have received 55 research papers from across the country,” said Mandavi.

University vice-chancellor Maan Singh Parmar sought to distance himself from the seminar, saying it was not a university event but hosted by the Uttar Pradesh government‘s Ayodhya Research Institute and Culture Department.

“I don’t think there is any harm in telling students about spiritual communication,” Parmar said.

Another faculty member said one can learn a lot from Hanuman, whose time management was “excellent”.

Y P Singh, director of Ayodhya Institute, which was set up in 1986 in Faizabad, said, “For journalism students, it is important to understand that how Hanuman reached across the globe. There are many aspects of (his) that should be read and learned.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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