UGC to set up Dayanand Saraswati chair

New Delhi, Nov 9 (IANS) The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Thursday asked universities to send proposals to set up a Chair in their institutions named after the 19th century social reformer Swami Dayanand Saraswati.

The central funding body said it is in the process of establishing chairs named after "illustrious persons", including one to honour the founder of Arya Samaj.

"The UGC has been implementing a scheme Establishment of Chairs in the name of illustrious persons in the universities," a communique from the commission read.

The Chairs approved by the commission include one named after Swami Dayanand Saraswati on the area 'social reformer or social awakening'.

The universities wanting to establish the said Chair will have to write to the UGC within 15 days along with "detailed proposal including the annual budget" to the secretary of the commission, it added.

Dayanand Saraswati was an ascetic who opposed idolatry, ritualistic worship rife in Hindu religion then, and was a proponent of the country's ancient Vedic traditions.

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