Manusmriti dropped from Delhi University Sanskrit Dharmashastra syllabus
Delhi University confirmed that Manusmriti will not be taught on any course at Delhi University's School of Open Learning. This comes after the ancient scripture was added to a new undergraduate course in Sanskrit recently, which angered many students and teachers."The University of Delhi will not teach the Manusmriti text in any course offered by the university," said the university in a statement.advertisement"The 'Dharmashastra Studies' course, a Discipline-Specific Core (DSC) paper of the Sanskrit Department, in which Manusmriti was listed as a recommended reading, stands deleted." it further added.
The book was a part of a four-credit course titled Dharmashastra Studies in the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework, which was contextualised as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.The course also covered texts such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, and Arthashastra.PROTESTS OVER INCLUSION PROMPT DU TO REINFORCE BANThis is not the first time that individuals have protested against the Manusmriti at DU.The suggestion to add it to the undergraduate History (Honours) course had been withdrawn in July last year amidst protests.The Manusmriti has been criticised by numerous instructors and student groups for its gender and caste regulations.Its presence within any curriculum is bound to be interpreted as a means of advancing outdated ideology.advertisementIts reinstatement this year sparked new protests and calls for greater oversight of the manner in which courses at universities are constructed.The university's statement now reflects the fact that the university's earlier position is still the same.DU has again decided to leave the text out of its classrooms, so that what is being taught is not in any manner provoking conflict and exclusion.
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