Shared DNA: Uniting Through Civilisational Metaphors

In a contentious debate, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has backed Jamia Millia Islamia Vice Chancellor Mazhar Asif's statement that Indians share 'Mahadev's DNA'. The BJP argues that the uproar over this remark illustrates a decreasing tolerance for civilisational ideas.

BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya emphasized that Asif's comments should be seen as civilisational metaphors rather than scientific claims. Malviya asserted that such expressions reflect India's shared ancestry and cultural continuity, elements that have shaped the nation's collective consciousness over millennia.

The statements were made during an RSS-organised event, sparking controversy. Malviya criticized those labeling the expressions as unscientific, asserting that unity should be understood through the lens of historical and cultural interconnection rather than sterile literalism.

(With inputs from agencies.)