Bolpur (West Bengal): A controversy has erupted at Visva-Bharati University after some of its semester examinations were rescheduled to accommodate an all-India test conducted by a wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in January next year. The semester examinations for Visva-Bharati University’s UG and PG courses are scheduled to be held from January 7 to February 10. However, the university administration has issued a notice to all departments instructing them not to conduct any examinations between January 29 and February 2, 2026.
Questions are being raised as to why Visva-Bharati, a ‘World Heritage’ institution, is altering its semester examination schedule for a test conducted by a private organization? Is Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s Visva-Bharati now directly under the control of the RSS? Visva-Bharati University’s acting Public Relations Officer, Atig Ghosh, said, “No examination dates have been changed. It’s just that no exams are being held during those few days. Visva-Bharati is a Central University; it functions according to the directives of the central government. The same is the case here.” However, professors and lecturers at Visva-Bharati are unhappy with this notice. Many departments will have to change their examination schedules. Although they have not commented publicly on the matter, one professor, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Everything was finalized. We had given the students their examination schedule. Now we are facing a lot of problems in rescheduling everything.”
Bharat Bodh’s ‘IKS’ Examination
The RSS’s education wing is ‘Vidya Bharati’. ‘Bharat Bodh’ is a project of Vidya Bharati. The Bharat Bodh ‘IKS’ examination is conducted across the country. This examination is scheduled to be held from January 31 to February 1, 2026. The main objective of the Bharat Bodh project run by the RSS is to connect the youth with Indian culture, philosophy, Ayurveda, astronomy, and yoga. This is also linked to the National Education Policy of 2020. Visva-Bharati University, founded by Rabindranath Tagore, is the only central university in West Bengal. It has been granted ‘World Heritage’ status by UNESCO. This university’s own semester examination schedule has been altered to accommodate an examination by a private political organization. The Visva-Bharati administration has sent a notice to the principals and heads of all departments, instructing them that since the ‘Bharat Bodh IKS’ examination is scheduled, no examinations should be held from January 29th to February 2nd. If any examinations are scheduled during this period, the schedule should be changed. However, all Visva-Bharati University examinations must be completed within the stipulated time.
Reactions from Political Parties
Regarding this directive, Gautam Ghosh, the CPI(M) district secretary of Birbhum, said, “Gurudev’s Visva-Bharati is now being run by the RSS. Therefore, it is natural that they will change the examination schedule according to their whims. The RSS wants to erase Rabindranath’s ideals and increase its own power. We strongly protest against this.” Shyampada Mandal, the BJP organizational district president (Bolpur), said, “Look, this matter is entirely Visva-Bharati’s. They must have thought it was a good idea, that’s why they did it. Why such an objection to an examination? Educational institutions conduct academic examinations. The central government and Visva-Bharati do everything according to Gurudev’s ideals, and they will do the same in this matter as well.”
Trinamool Chhatra Parishad to Protest
Jamshed Ali Khan, the Trinamool Congress district spokesperson for Birbhum, said, “The RSS and BJP have already done a lot to erase Rabindranath Tagore’s legacy at Visva-Bharati. They didn’t even put Rabindranath’s name on the plaque. Now, the current officials of Visva-Bharati are working at their behest. They are canceling their own examinations to conduct private examinations.” He added that the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad will raise its voice against this. Shivajiprasad Mandal, a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s state committee, said, “Vidya Bharati is an educational institution. Its main objective is to instill a sense of Indian identity in the youth. The exams will be held not only at Visva-Bharati but across the entire country. Why is there so much hesitation or uproar regarding education? What is the objection to patriotism? Something good is happening, and everyone should support it.” This year, a controversy erupted over the differing decisions of two state universities regarding the cancellation of exams on the foundation day of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (Trinamool student wing). Authorities at Burdwan University suddenly issued a notice postponing the exams just before the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad’s foundation day on August 28. However, Calcutta University did not follow suit. Trinamool Chhatra Parishad state president Trinankar Bhattacharya protested Calcutta University’s decision. Despite the controversy, Calcutta University stood firm on its decision and conducted the exams (B.A./B.Sc./B.Com fourth semester) as scheduled. After the exams, Calcutta University’s then-acting Vice-Chancellor Shanta Dutta De stated in a press conference that “an atmosphere of unnecessary fear had been created.”
It is noteworthy that earlier, the SFI and the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad had also raised their voices against the RSS’s interference in Visva-Bharati. Visva-Bharati has witnessed several student movements, gheraos, and protests. Controversies arose over various issues, including discussions on Kali Puja rituals, analysis of the reasons for the BJP’s defeat in the state assembly elections, discussions on the benefits of the NRC, and the presence and participation of BJP leaders in various university programs. After overcoming those previous controversies, the institution had been functioning without any major incidents for several months. Now, a new controversy has erupted in Visva-Bharati regarding the RSS examination, causing concern among many.
Aparna Das Mahapatra and Supriyo Thakur, senior residents of Visva-Bharati, said, “All the ideals of Rabindranath Tagore will gradually disappear. Something is going wrong. We have never seen such active political interference in Visva-Bharati before. Now there is politics in everything. Education, art, and culture are disappearing, and we are at a loss for words to express our protest.”
