Kolkata varsity says 'no' to astrology

KOLKATA, SEPT. 9. The Rabindra Bharati University (RBU) here has rejected the University Grant Commission's (UGC) proposal to set up a ``jyotirvigyan'' department and returned a grant of Rs. 15 lakhs.

``Our university did not send any proposal to the UGC at all for setting up any department for teaching astrology, which the Ugc has renamed as `jyotirvigyan','' the RBU vice- chancellor, Mr. Subhankar Chakraborty said.

The UGC ``on its own'' accorded approval for the establishment of such a department in the university a few months ago and sent a cheque for Rs. 15 lakhs for the project. The commission also granted the appointment of a professor, two readers and lecturers each and establishment of a computerised horoscope bank, he said. ``Our university can never accept this offer because astrology has not yet been established as a science through laboratory experiments, observations, analysis or research,'' Mr. Chakraborty added.

- PTI

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