A Sanskrit recitation at IIT Delhi’s recently held convocation has sparked controversy after Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed questioned the inclusion of what she identified as the Gayatri Mantra at an academic ceremony.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the convocation, adding a political dimension to the debate. Mohamed questioned why a religious chant would be included in an educational event, while an IIT Kanpur alumnus disputed her identification of the verses, saying they were not the Gayatri Mantra.
According to the alumnus, the verses were from the Shikshavalli section of the Taittiriya Upanishad, which focuses on education and the relationship between teachers and students.
The recitation includes the prayer, “Tan mm avatu, tad vaktram avatu,” which seeks protection for both the student and the teacher. The sentiment places the learner and educator together in the same prayer before the transmission of knowledge.
WHAT DID SHAMA MOHAMED SAY?
Mohamed questioned why the Gayatri Mantra was recited at an IIT convocation, while clarifying that she personally had no objection to the chant.
“My cook plays the Gayatri Mantra every day when he enters my kitchen, and I listen to it every day and like it,” she said.
However, she questioned its presence at an academic event, arguing that educational institutions should remain free of religious slogans and chants.
Her argument was based on two points: that the recitation was the Gayatri Mantra and that religious chants should not be part of an academic ceremony. The first claim has since been challenged.
IIT ALUMNUS DISPUTES IDENTIFICATION
IIT Kanpur alumnus Gyan C Mehta directly challenged Mohamed’s identification of the verses.
“I certainly don't want to pick a fight with your cook, but the fundamental premise of your post is factually incorrect. What is being chanted is not the Gayatri Mantra, not that there is anything wrong with it. As a proud IIT Kanpur alum, it is frustrating to see this,” Mehta said.
His response shifts part of the debate away from the broader question of religion in educational institutions and towards the more basic issue of what was actually recited during the ceremony.
According to Mehta, the verses came from the Shikshavalli of the Taittiriya Upanishad, rather than the Gayatri Mantra. The section deals extensively with learning, discipline and the bond between a teacher and student.
INSIDE IIT DELHI'S 57TH CONVOCATION
IIT Delhi conducted its 57th Convocation on August 8, attended by more than 3,000 students and 587 PhD scholars. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the graduating students and encouraged them to remain curious, question established ideas and pursue innovative solutions.
His address largely focused on education, research, technology and India's future, including opportunities in semiconductor manufacturing and the role of young graduates in the country's development.
It was during this academic event that the Sanskrit recitation became the subject of Mohamed's criticism.
THE SAMAVARTANA CONNECTION
The verses also have a connection with the traditional Samavartana ceremony, which historically marked the completion of a student's education and the transition towards social responsibility.
The Shikshavalli of the Taittiriya Upanishad emphasises values including truth, duty, discipline, respect for teachers and ethical conduct.
Supporters of the recitation view it as a connection between contemporary education and India's ancient intellectual traditions. Critics, meanwhile, question whether religiously rooted verses should feature in ceremonies at public educational institutions.
WHY THE DISTINCTION MATTERS
The larger debate over religion and secularism in educational institutions is separate from the question of what was actually recited at IIT Delhi.
Mohamed argued that the Gayatri Mantra had no place at an academic ceremony, while Mehta maintained that the verses were from the Taittiriya Upanishad's Shikshavalli and not the Gayatri Mantra.
As the debate continues, the factual identification of the Sanskrit recitation remains central to understanding the controversy.
