<p>That move was aborted following a huge uproar. The stars clearly were not with Joshi.<br />Likewise, rationalists in Bangalore University’s science faculty have thwarted plans of the State BJP government to introduce astrology as a course at both the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. <br /><br />The heads of all science disciplines in the university unanimously rejected the government’s plan to begin “Jyotish Shastra” as a science, citing it as an “obscurantist and unscientific move”. The decision to reject the proposal was taken at a meeting of the faculty on January 6. The Yeddyurappa government’s academic horoscope now reads: stars in retrograde. <br /><br />Mooted by a former Cabinet minister, the government’s proposal to start astrology as a science course was introduced last year and was recommended for all central varsities in the state. <br /><br />Sources at the department said the faculty of different departments objected to the proposal on the ground that astrology as a subject was a non-science and had not undergone enough scientific scrutiny.<br /><br />The faculty’s approval is statutory under the Karnataka State Universities Act 2000 and is critical in introducing new courses. Only after a course is ratified by the faculty can it be presented to the University Syndicate or, for that matter, the Academic Council for approval. <br /><br />The State Government’s plan is reminiscent of Joshi’s passionate move to introduce “Jyotir Vigyan” or Vedic Astrology as an under-graduate and post-graduate course. That could happen after a UGC committee recommended introducing it as part of the BJP-led NDA government’s decision to revive “ancient science”.<br /><br />When scientists and academics scoffed at Joshi’s pursuit of the stars and the cosmos and beyond, the proposal was given a quite burial. Joshi’s bid to create generations of star gazers and soothsayers was soundly and predictably thwarted.<br />Now, as if trying to send across a no-nonsense message to the State Government, Bangalore University’s science faculty ratified introducing six new courses, including a Bachelor of Science programme, to promote pure science.<br />DH News Service</p>
<p>That move was aborted following a huge uproar. The stars clearly were not with Joshi.<br />Likewise, rationalists in Bangalore University’s science faculty have thwarted plans of the State BJP government to introduce astrology as a course at both the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. <br /><br />The heads of all science disciplines in the university unanimously rejected the government’s plan to begin “Jyotish Shastra” as a science, citing it as an “obscurantist and unscientific move”. The decision to reject the proposal was taken at a meeting of the faculty on January 6. The Yeddyurappa government’s academic horoscope now reads: stars in retrograde. <br /><br />Mooted by a former Cabinet minister, the government’s proposal to start astrology as a science course was introduced last year and was recommended for all central varsities in the state. <br /><br />Sources at the department said the faculty of different departments objected to the proposal on the ground that astrology as a subject was a non-science and had not undergone enough scientific scrutiny.<br /><br />The faculty’s approval is statutory under the Karnataka State Universities Act 2000 and is critical in introducing new courses. Only after a course is ratified by the faculty can it be presented to the University Syndicate or, for that matter, the Academic Council for approval. <br /><br />The State Government’s plan is reminiscent of Joshi’s passionate move to introduce “Jyotir Vigyan” or Vedic Astrology as an under-graduate and post-graduate course. That could happen after a UGC committee recommended introducing it as part of the BJP-led NDA government’s decision to revive “ancient science”.<br /><br />When scientists and academics scoffed at Joshi’s pursuit of the stars and the cosmos and beyond, the proposal was given a quite burial. Joshi’s bid to create generations of star gazers and soothsayers was soundly and predictably thwarted.<br />Now, as if trying to send across a no-nonsense message to the State Government, Bangalore University’s science faculty ratified introducing six new courses, including a Bachelor of Science programme, to promote pure science.<br />DH News Service</p>
