[Reader-list] Are Hindus ‘others’?

[Pawan Durani]

Iftedah he Sickular Ishq mein ..Sari raat jaage ....Allah jaane Kya Hoga
Aage ....



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*Are Hindus ‘others’?*

*Abhishek Anshu | New Delhi*

*GGSIPU admission form raises eyebrows*

In an apparent error of omission on the part of authorities, Guru Gobind
Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) has asked all applicants to mention
their religion in the admission form by marking the appropriate option, but
failed to provide that of ‘Hindu’ even though all minority faiths are listed
specifically.

Those belonging to the Hindu religion are, therefore, left with no choice
but to indicate their faith by ticking the ‘Others’ column on the list.

While such a format has sparked widespread confusion and panic among
students and applicants, IP University Vice-Chancellor Prof DK
Bandyo-padhyay has said by way of clarification that the “column contains
minority religions and Hindu falls in the category of ‘Others’”.

“This is nothing unusual as it is known to all that Hindus are the majority.
The ‘religion’ column has minorities in it and the Hindu students should
fill out the ‘Others’ option given in the religion column of the form,” said
Bandyopadhyay.

The V-C added that in the form, SC/ST/OBC and ‘Others’ are separate options.
“In the form, we have the options of Minorities, SC/ST/OBC and ‘Others’.
Hindus, being the majority, should fill up ‘Others’,” he said. All
explanations notwithstanding, students are still perplexed about how to fill
the admission forms and some of them are even in a state of panic.

“I filled up the application form but when I got to the religion column, I
got confused as ‘Hindu’ was nowhere on the page. I have filled forms of
various universities but this is for the first time I have seen something
like this,” Aarushi, an applicant, said.

She added she had to reread the admission brochure to confirm there were no
printing errors. “I was scared there was a printing error. After going
through the brochure, I learnt that the option was simply not mentioned,”
she said. IP University was hit by controversy recently when over 1,000 fake
admission forms were submitted by applicants.