Anna University makes Philosophy compulsory; Evokes controversy

Chennai: Anna University has decided to teach Philosophy as a compulsory course to its 3rd Semester B Tech and M Tech students.

This comes at a time when the university is surrounded by another controversy involving teaching Sanskrit.

MK Surappa, Vice-Chancellor of the University said, "I'll speak to my colleague in IST (Information Science&Technology) dept that there must be a choice. We will amend it soon."

Philosophy is currently being offered by the department of IST. It is still unsure as to how the university will amend the rules but it has caused another controversy.

This issues came into light when a section of media reported that the University had made Philosophy compulsory for engineering students and the curriculum included the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads among others.

One of the first to oppose this is DMK chief, M K Stalin. The president of the opposition sought the intervention of Governor Banwarilal Purohit, who is also the varsity's Chancellor.

He tweeted, "It is condemnable to attempt imposition of Sanskrit by making philosophy compulsory in the syllabus of Anna University's CEG campus."

Apart from reading the Bhagavad Gita, Upnishads and Vedas, students will also be learning about Plato's Republic, and texts by Francis Bacon. The University has said that this curriculum will help create a new understanding in students by teaching philosophy through a comparison of Indian & Western traditions.

This new introduction has been initiated by The All India Council for Techn