Academic institutions risk drifting from scientific reason to ritual, argues essay

Educational institutions are fundamentally intended to be temples of empiricism where truth is discovered through observation, experimentation, and peer-reviewed verification.

An op-ed published in The Hindu criticized recent convocation practices at institutions like IIT Delhi, where students were reportedly instructed on bowing and standing for Vedic chants.

Critics argue that performative traditionalism in academic settings can enforce hierarchical etiquette and discourage independent inquiry among students.