Gujarat University Introduces PM Modi’s ‘Jyoti Punj’ and Veer Savarkar’s Autobiography in Curriculum

In a significant academic development, Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU), Vadodara, has incorporated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s book Jyoti Punj and Hindutva thinker Veer Savarkar’s autobiography Inside the Enemy Camp into its new BA (English) minor course. The course, launched under the National Education Policy 2020, aims to foster nationalism and cultural awareness among students.

Course Focus and Structure
Titled Analysis and Understanding of Non-Fiction Writings on India, the course also includes selected works of Sri Aurobindo, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, Swami Vivekananda, and episodes from PM Modi’s radio program Mann Ki Baat. The course integrates English studies with India’s intellectual and cultural heritage.

Dr. Hitesh D. Ravia, Head of the English Department, said the course will be taught in the third year, second semester, spanning 60 hours divided into four units:

1. Biographical Studies – Narendra Modi’s Jyoti Punj, focusing on life, discipline, moral leadership, and service to the nation.
2. Autobiographical Analysis – Veer Savarkar’s Inside the Enemy Camp, exploring personal experience, imprisonment, resistance, and ideological commitment.
3. Philosophical Essays – Selected writings of Sri Aurobindo (The Renaissance in India) and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya (Integral Humanism).
4. Public Speaking & Ideological Thought – Swami Vivekananda’s The East and the West and excerpts from Mann Ki Baat.

Student Participation and Vision
The course, guided by Dr. Aditi Vahia, has already enrolled 63 students this semester. Active classroom participation has been observed, reflecting strong student engagement. By integrating works of Modi, Savarkar, Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, and Deendayal Upadhyaya, MSU aims to align English studies with national consciousness, intellectual self-reliance, and global outlook.

This initiative is seen as a model for Indian universities, combining curricular autonomy with the cultivation of patriotic and culturally aware graduates.