JNU Vice Chancellors to be referred to as 'Kulgurus', says MP CM

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday said that Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) will now refer to its Vice Chancellors as "Kulgurus", inspired by a similar initiative introduced by the state government last year.

Speaking to ministers ahead of a cabinet meeting, Yadav said, “Like Madhya Pradesh, the Vice Chancellor of JNU will now be known as 'Kulguru'." He described it as a case of "navachar" (innovation) being emulated by a prestigious national institution.

However, the Chief Minister did not confirm whether JNU had officially implemented the change or if an administrative order had been issued.

The Madhya Pradesh government had renamed the post of Vice Chancellor (Kulpati) to "Kulguru" last year, claiming the move was in alignment with Indian cultural traditions and the Guru Parampara (spiritual lineage). Yadav had earlier argued that the word "Kulpati" might carry awkward or inappropriate connotations for women officeholders, making the shift to "Kulguru" more suitable.

In the same address, Yadav announced that women enrolled in the state’s Ladli Behna Yojana will receive an additional ₹250 as Rakshabandhan assistance, along with their regular monthly payment. This amount will be directly transferred to beneficiaries’ bank accounts on July 12.

To mark Guru Purnima on July 10, a two-day celebration will be organised across all schools and colleges in the state. Ministers, public representatives, citizens, and spiritual leaders will participate in various events. Yadav also announced that the Sandipani Vidyalaya (Kamala Nehru School) will be inaugurated in Bhopal as part of the festivities.

Highlighting the impact of recent policy decisions, Yadav claimed that the removal of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in the state had led to a 51 per cent reduction in road accidents and a 70 per cent drop in fatalities. He hailed this as a “pleasant outcome” of the government’s public-interest measures. The decision to dismantle BRTS was made in January 2024.

With PTI inputs