Jamia Millia Islamia Vice Chancellor Mazhar Asif sparked controversy after stating that all Indians share the DNA of the deity Mahadev.
The comments have triggered student protests and online backlash, as critics argue the statement is both religiously insensitive and scientifically unfounded. The incident highlights the tension between cultural rhetoric and academic standards at one of India's prominent universities.
Asif made the remarks on Tuesday during a Yuva Kumbh event organized by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) [1]. During the event, he said, "Mahadev is in our DNA" [1]. He said that "all Indians share Mahadev's DNA" [2].
The remarks were intended to convey a sense of shared cultural heritage among the Indian population [3]. However, the phrasing led to immediate friction within the Jamia Millia Islamia community. Students organized protests against the Vice Chancellor, citing the unscientific nature of the claim, and its implications for the university's inclusive environment [3].
Online reactions mirrored the campus unrest, with many questioning why a high-ranking academic official would use genetic terminology to describe a religious or cultural connection. The RSS-organized event served as the backdrop for these statements, which have now placed the university administration in the center of a national debate over identity and science [2].
University officials have not yet issued a formal retraction or a detailed scientific clarification regarding the statement. The protests continue to center on the perceived contradiction between Asif's role as an academic leader and the nature of his public remarks [3].
“"Mahadev is in our DNA"”
This incident reflects the ongoing struggle to balance nationalist cultural narratives with academic rigor in Indian higher education. By using the language of genetics to describe a spiritual or cultural bond, the Vice Chancellor has bridged a gap between political rhetoric and science that many students and faculty find problematic, potentially damaging the institution's reputation for scientific objectivity.
