A major controversy has erupted after Jamia Millia Islamia Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif reportedly said that all Indians share “Mahadev’s DNA” while speaking at a ‘Yuva Kumbh’ programme linked to the RSS on the university campus.
According to reports, Asif said that despite differences in language, religion, culture, and geography, Indians remain united and “the DNA of Mahadev resides within us.” The video of his speech quickly went viral on social media, triggering strong reactions from political groups and student organisations.
Student groups call remark “unscientific” and protest on campus
Student organisations, including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), strongly criticised the statement, calling it “unscientific” and “regressive.”
The SFI said the Vice-Chancellor’s remarks reflected a mindset that goes against the idea of scientific temper. It also alleged that students protesting the event faced a crackdown by the university administration.
In its statement, SFI claimed, “While students were peacefully protesting, the administration ordered a crackdown. Protesters were dragged, beaten, and assaulted by the proctorial team.”
Student groups also objected to the hosting of an RSS-linked event on campus, saying it was against the university’s tradition of pluralism. Some protest visuals from outside the campus showed students burning posters of the Vice-Chancellor and raising slogans demanding action.
BJP defends VC, calls remark “civilisational metaphor”
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came out in support of the Vice-Chancellor, saying the criticism was a result of misunderstanding his words.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya defended the statement, arguing that it should not be read literally. He said, “Interpreting this statement in a literal sense and then dismissing it as ‘unscientific’ misses its broader meaning.”
He further added, “These are civilisational metaphors that reflect shared ancestry, cultural continuity, and a collective consciousness shaped over millennia.”
“Maulana Abul Kalam Azad consistently argued that Indian Muslims are an inseparable part of India’s composite culture, bound by the same land and ancestry as Hindus. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan reinforced this view, emphasising that conversion does not alter ethnicity or origins,” he claimed.
“Even Muhammad Iqbal, often referred to as Allama Iqbal, acknowledged India’s shared cultural heritage, describing Bhagwan Ram as ‘Imam-e-Hind’, a spiritual guide for the people of this land,” Malviya said.
