The International University Dimapur (IUD) has issued a rejoinder to the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC)’s criticism over naming its Central Library after Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar.
In a statement, International University Dimapur pro chancellor Dr. Utkarsh Sharma clarified that the University was not affiliated with Hindutva ideology and is focused on empowering the youth of Nagaland through skill-based, employment-oriented programs across fields like management, fashion design, naturopathy, radiology, physiotherapy, and paramedical sciences.
Dr. Sharma expressed gratitude to the NPCC for recognizing the library initiative as praiseworthy, while affirming the University’s secular vision. He highlighted that the institution supports interfaith harmony, citing the scholarly contributions of its Founder Chancellor Dr. Priyaranjan Trivedi, who authored a 10-volume Encyclopedia of Interfaith Studies.
He noted Dr. Trivedi’s previous establishment of the Indira Gandhi Technological and Medical Sciences University in Arunachal Pradesh as a mark of admiration for former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Dr. Sharma clarified that naming the library after Dr. Hedgewar as a scholar, was done so without any religious or ideological bias. He added that the University also plans to name various departments and blocks after freedom fighters from Nagaland.
In a significant initiative, he said the University was in the process of developing a comprehensive 20-volume ‘Encyclopedia of Christianity in Nagaland’, covering topics including the origins of Christianity, tribal contexts, Bible translation, missionary roles, theological developments, church architecture, liturgy, women in the church, revivalism, ethics, culture, and political engagement etc.
Dr. Sharma further clarified that the in its two decades of operation, the University has never promoted Hinduism and its focused remained on fostering entrepreneurship among its graduates, who have successfully ventured into business and contributed to the corporate sector through managerial skills.
He also stressed that the institution aims to produce not only job seekers but job creators, encouraging students to become edupreneurs, sociopreneurs, ecopreneurs and sustainopreneurs.
With over 75,000 books, he said the Central Library is now the largest in Nagaland– exceeding the Nagaland State Library (58,000 books) and Nagaland University Central Library (44,543 books).