After facing criticism, Delhi University's Registrar calls BA(Hons) English revised syllabus 'inclusive'

The final content of the syllabus had been designed by the Department of English, and that it was done so after deliberations and recommendations of the Head of Department, Delhi University Registrar said in a statement. 

Day after Delhi University came under fire for removing two Dalit authors and renowned writer Mahasweta Devi from the English syllabus, the DU registrar Vikas Gupta has said that the criticism was “misplaced and unfounded”, and that the syllabus was “inclusive” in nature.

In a statement, Gupta further stated the literary texts being taught as part of the syllabus should not have content that “hurt the sentiments of any individual” and that they should “portray a true picture of our society”.

Earlier, the Delhi University’s Oversight Committee (OC) had removed two Dalit feminist authors – Bama and Sukhirtharini – from the Women’s Writing course and also done away with Mahasweta Devi’s ‘Draupadi’ — about a tribal woman who is gang-raped by policemen after being picked up on suspicion of being a Naxal.

During an Academic Council meeting held on August 24, 2021, 15 members of AC submitted a dissent note against the OC, alleging undue interference. The AC members accused the OC of being casteist and alleged that the committee did not have any subject experts.

“This is for the information of all concerned that the University of Delhi has accepted the recommendations of the Oversight Committee with respect to the syllabus of BA (Hons) English course for Semester V. Some issues highlighted by a section of the media regarding the content of the syllabus are misplaced and unfounded as the syllabus of the course has been passed through a democratic process with the involvement of all the relevant stakeholders and necessary deliberations at appropriate forums,” Gupta stated.

He further said “the final content of the syllabus” had been designed by the Department of English, and that it was done so after “deliberations and recommendations of the Head of Department”.

“A careful perusal of the present syllabus clearly brings out the inclusive nature of the syllabus under reference in terms of its diversity of content and inclusion of pioneering works of various renowned scholars of both national and international fame without consideration of their religion, caste and creed as, according to the University, excellence in academia is not subservient to these attributes,” said Gupta.

“The university subscribes to the idea that the literary content forming part of the text in a language course of study should contain materials which do not hurt the sentiments of any individual and is inclusive in nature to portray a true picture of our society, both past and present. Such an inclusive approach is important for the young minds who imbibe the teaching-learning emanating from the syllabus in letter and spirit. Therefore, the content of the syllabus depicts the idea of inclusiveness, diversity and harmony,” he added.

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