Yogi Adityanath's Degree College In Uttarakhand Is Run By A Muslim Who Says There's No Discrimination

Yogi Adityanath may be known for his firebrand version of Hindutva politics but in neighbouring Uttarakhand, the Muslim principal of a degree college set up by the UP CM says that the institution is a symbol of "fairness, tolerance and humanity".

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Set up by Yogi in his home district of Pauri in 1999, the Mahayogi Guru Gorakh Nath Degree College in Bithynia has been added to the list of government-aided schools in the state after the BJP came to power in Uttarakhand.

"The beauty of the college is that it is free from discrimination based on caste, religion or colour. It is as pure as the environment of the hills," principal Aftab Ahmad said as he sat in his one-room office which has pictures of various freedom fighters and various Hindu gods hanging on the wall.

Ahmad, who hails from Dehradun, said that the college, which has 150 students, most of them girls, got affiliation from HNB Garhwal University in 2005 and employs NET-qualified teachers from across the country. There is no other degree college in the district. The closest degree college is in Rishikesh, 50 km away.

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Ahmad, who was appointed as the head of the institution in 2014, said, "The idea here is to give the best of education to these young minds and promote values of humanity and tolerance."

Yogi's younger brother, Mahender Singh Bisht, who is the administrator of the college, said that the college has zero-tolerance for discrimination.

"The college is not furthering any ideology. It is run by a Muslim principal who is the first one to play Holi with me each year and lights the earthen lamp on the auspicious occasion."

Mukesh Tyagi, who has been teaching history in the college for eight years, added,

"Whatever the personal ideology of the UP CM may be, it does not affect this institution. The purpose here is to impart education. The place has always been free from communal tensions or any kind of discrimination."

The college authorities now hope that its inclusion in the list of government-aided college will provide it the much-needed infrastructure boost. At present, the institute has 10 classrooms and a library.

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"We plan to start post graduation courses in Arts," said Bisht. The students are also looking forward to improved infrastructure and more female staff.

Sarita Kumari, a second-year student said, "The college is a boon for students from economically weaker sections who cannot afford to go to Kotdwar or Rishikesh for studies."